The "slime" reaction involves sodium borate and polyvinyl alcohol.
Seven borates : natron, and impure sodium borate.
In several such accidents, either borax (sodium borate) or a cadmium compound has been added to the system.
A high-school and college teacher will help children make this gooey stuff by mixing a solution of polyvinyl alcohol, sodium borate, guar gum and food coloring.
It is made up of sodium borate, usually 1-10 mM at pH 8.0.
Borax contains sodium borate which kills fleas by dehydrating them, but its safety for pets is untested.
Robert Topper In the Teachers section of this board, 'virginia reid' talks about an experiment making silly putty using sodium borate and glue.
If an outbreak has occurred, earth runs may be treated with sodium borate which is lethal to hookworm larvae, but this also kills grass.
Another approach uses radioactive waste as an energy source for regeneration of spent fuel by converting sodium borate to sodium borohydride.