How Do You Spell SODIUM BOROHYDRIDE?

Pronunciation: [sˈə͡ʊdi͡əm bˈɔːɹə͡ʊˌa͡ɪdɹa͡ɪd] (IPA)

Sodium borohydride is a common reducing agent used in organic chemistry. The spelling of this word follows the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) rules. It is made up of four syllables and is phonetically transcribed as /ˈsoʊ.di.əm bɔː.roʊˈhaɪˌdraɪd/. The first syllable sounds like "soh," the second sounds like "dee," the third sounds like "uhm," and the fourth sounds like "baw," "roh," "high" and "dride." The correct spelling and pronunciation of this word are important for efficient communication and clarity in scientific research.

Meaning and Definition
Etymology
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SODIUM BOROHYDRIDE Meaning and Definition

  1. Sodium borohydride is a chemical compound with the formula NaBH4. It is a white, crystalline solid that is widely used in various chemical processes as a reducing agent. With a molar mass of approximately 37.83 g/mol, sodium borohydride is composed of sodium (Na), boron (B), and hydrogen (H) atoms.

    As a powerful reducing agent, sodium borohydride is primarily employed in organic chemistry for the reduction of carbonyl compounds, such as aldehydes and ketones, to their corresponding alcohols. This reduction reaction involves the transfer of a hydride ion (H-) from the borohydride ion (BH4-) to the carbonyl group of the target compound, resulting in the formation of an alcohol and a borate species.

    Due to its strong reducing capabilities, sodium borohydride is also used in several other applications. It is utilized in the synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs, dyes, and various organic compounds. Additionally, it is employed as a reducing agent for the removal of heavy metal ions, such as silver and gold, from solutions. Sodium borohydride is considered safer and more stable compared to other reducing agents like lithium aluminum hydride.

    However, despite its usefulness, sodium borohydride has limitations, particularly in specific reduction reactions. It may not be suitable for reducing certain functional groups, such as nitro groups or aromatic compounds, and alternative reagents need to be employed. Overall, sodium borohydride plays a crucial role in organic synthesis and chemical industries as an essential reducing agent.

Etymology of SODIUM BOROHYDRIDE

The word "sodium" originates from the Medieval Latin word "sodanum" and the Arabic word "suda", both referring to a headache or migraine remedy. "Borohydride" is derived from the combination of "boron", originating from the Persian word "burah" meaning "borax", and "hydride", derived from the Greek word "húdōr" meaning "water". Therefore, the term "sodium borohydride" is a combination of the element "sodium" and the compound "borohydride", involving boron and hydrogen.