Boric acid (H3BO3), is a weak acid derived from natural mineral salt that contains the elements boron, oxygen, and hydrogen. Boracic acid, orthoboric acid, acidum boricum, and hydrogen borate are some of its alternative names. Their appearance can either be in the form of colorless crystals or a white powder.
Boric acid can be used in various fields such as medicine, household, and can also be an insecticide.
For medicinal purposes; aqueous solutions of boric acid are used topically for cleansing and soothing irritated eyes such as pink eye or conjunctivitis. This can also serve as wound spray for cuts and burns. It's also beneficial for curing skin infections. The solution has a mild antiseptic and antifungal properties.
In the household it helps in removing stains on your clothes just like market bought bleaches. If you want an odorless kitchen and bathroom you just need to sprinkle boric acid (powder) on the affected area and brush it after 30 minutes.
As an insecticide, it doesn't kill bugs by using toxic chemicals. It acts as a desiccant that dehydrates insects by causing cracks in their exoskeleton and eventually dries them out.
Boric acid crystals were first man-made in 1702 by Wilhelm Homberg who mixed borax and mineral acids with water. The evaporating water left crystals of boric acid and was often called “Homberg’s salt.”