sodium borohydride

Sodium borohydride (NaBH4) is an inorganic compound with the formula NaBH4. It is a white crystalline solid, usually encountered as an aqueous basic solution. Sodium borohydride is a strong reducing agent and is used in a variety of applications, including:

• Bleaching wood pulp
• Making other chemicals, such as hydrazine and boric acid
• Treating waste water
• Reducing aldehydes and ketones to alcohols in organic synthesis
• Generating hydrogen gas

Sodium borohydride is a flammable solid and can react violently with water. It is also corrosive to metals and can cause skin burns. It is important to handle sodium borohydride with care and to follow the safety precautions provided by the manufacturer.

Here are some of the specific uses of sodium borohydride:

• In the paper industry, sodium borohydride is used to bleach wood pulp. This makes the pulp whiter and brighter, which improves the quality of the paper.
• In the chemical industry, sodium borohydride is used to make other chemicals, such as hydrazine and boric acid. Hydrazine is used as a rocket fuel and a rocket propellant, and boric acid is used as a flame retardant and a fertilizer.
• In wastewater treatment, sodium borohydride is used to remove pollutants from water. It can be used to remove cyanides, phenols, and other organic compounds.
• In organic synthesis, sodium borohydride is used to reduce aldehydes and ketones to alcohols. This is a common reaction in the synthesis of drugs, perfumes, and other organic compounds.
• Sodium borohydride can also be used to generate hydrogen gas. This gas can be used as a fuel or as a source of hydrogen for other reactions.

Sodium borohydride is a versatile and important chemical with a wide range of applications. It is important to handle it with care, however, due to its flammability and corrosiveness.