Detailed Product Description:

Fluoroboric acid is the conjugate acid of tetrafluoroborate.  It is available

commercially as a solution in water and other solvents such as diethyl ether.

With a strength comparable to nitric acid, fluoroboric acid is considered

a strong acid with a weakly coordinating, non-oxidizing conjugate base.

Grade/Purity:

This is Reagent Grade material with a minimum purity of 99.5%.

Background:

Aqueous solutions of HBF4 are typically produced by dissolving boric acid

in hydrofluoric acid solution in aqueous solution at 20-25 °C.

Fluoroboric acid is the principal precursor to fluoroborate salts, which are

typically prepared by acid-base reactions.  The inorganic salts are intermediates

in the manufacture of flame-retardant materials, glazing frits, and in electrolytic

generation of boron.  HBF4 is also used in aluminum etching and acid pickling.

Applications:

HBF4 is used as a catalyst in for alkylations and polymerizations.  In carbohydrate

protection reactions, ethereal fluoroboric acid is an efficient and cost-effective

catalyst for transacetalation and isopropylidenation reactions.  Acetonitrile solutions

cleave acetals and some ethers, while neat fluoroboric acid removes tert-butoxycarbonyl

groups.

Aqueous HBF4 is also used as an electrolyte in galvanic cell oxygen sensor systems

which consist of an anode, cathode, and oxygen-permeable membrane.  The solution

of HBF4 is able to dissolve lead (II) oxide from the anode in the form of lead

tetrafluoroborate while leaving the rest of the system.

A mixture of CrO3, HBF4, and sulfonic acids in conjunction with a cathode treatment

give tin-plated steel.  Tin (I) fluoroborate/fluoroboric acid mixtures and organic

reagents are used as the electrolyte in the cathode treatment of the tin plating process.  

Similar processes of electrodeposition and electrolytic stripping are used to obtain

specific metal alloys.

Precautions:

Corrosive.  Causes severe skin irritation and burns.  Maybe fatal if swallowed.

Download, read, and understand precautions outlined in MSDS before using this substance.

Click here to download MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet)

Packaging:

Contents of  250ml contained in HDPE Nalgene lab bottle.