A quantitative powder-x-ray analysis was developed for
this case by which it was shown that carefully prepared borax
dehydrates directly into an unhydrous amorphous phase. Eight
molecul es of water are quantitatively lost on complete dehydration
(below 50°C) as required by the structural formula.. The proton
m agnetic resonance results agree with these findings showing also
that the spectrum due to OH-groups changes considerably on
dehydration. This was used ~n following deuteration (solid/gas)
of dehydrated borax. The p.m.r. spectra, the x-ray di agrams,
and the measured regain indicate ·a reconshltution of the borax-
lattice towards the formula Na2,[B 40 5(0H) 4] • 8D 20
