Thermodynamic properties of two zinc borates: 3ZnO·3B2O3·3.5H2O and 6ZnO·5B2O3·3H2O

• Two zinc borates 3ZnO·3B2O3·3.5H2O and 6ZnO·5B2O3·3H2O have been synthesized and characterized.
• Enthalpies of solution of both zinc borates were measured by microcalorimeter.
• Enthalpies of solution of ZnO were also measured by microcalorimeter.
• ΔfHmθ for both zinc borates were obtained by thermochemical cycles.

Two pure zinc borates with microporous structure 3ZnO·3B2O3·3.5H2O and 6ZnO·5B2O3·3H2O have been synthesized and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, TG techniques and chemical analysis. The molar enthalpies of solution of 3ZnO·3B2O3·3.5H2O(s) and 6ZnO·5B2O3·3H2O(s) in 1 mol · dm−3 HCl(aq) were measured by microcalorimeter at T = 298.15 K, respectively. The molar enthalpies of solution of ZnO(s) in the mixture solvent of 2.00 cm3 of 1 mol · dm−3 HCl(aq) in which 5.30 mg of H3BO3 were added were also measured. With the incorporation of the previously determined enthalpy of solution of H3BO3(s) in 1 mol · dm−3 HCl(aq), together with the use of the standard molar enthalpies of formation for ZnO(s), H3BO3(s), and H2O(l), the standard molar enthalpies of formation of −(6115.3 ± 5.0) kJ · mol−1 for 3ZnO·3B2O3·3.5H2O and −(9606.6 ± 8.5) kJ · mol−1 for 6ZnO·5B2O3·3H2O at T = 298.15 K were obtained on the basis of the appropriate thermochemical cycles.