is borax the same as borate?
Both borax and boric acid are known as borates, which are compounds that come from the element boron. ... Borax, or Sodium Tetraborate (Na2B4O7 • 10H2O), is made up of sodium, oxygen and boron. Boric acid is created from the mixture of borax with other naturally occurring minerals such as boracite and colemanite.