Borax, also known as sodium borate, sodium tetraborate,
or disodium tetraborate, is an important boron compound,
a mineral, and a salt of boric acid. Powdered borax is white,
consisting of soft colorless crystals that dissolve easily in water.
Its molecular (chemical) formula is
Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O or Na₂[B₄O₅(OH)₄]·8H₂O .