Why is an aqueous solution of borax slightly alkaline ?

Explanation

To understand why an aqueous solution of borax is slightly alkaline, we can break down the explanation into several steps:

### Step 1: Identify Borax
Borax is a chemical compound known as sodium borate, with the formula Na2B4O7. It is a salt derived from boric acid (a weak acid) and sodium hydroxide (a strong base).

### Step 2: Understand Hydrolysis
When borax is dissolved in water, it undergoes hydrolysis. Hydrolysis is a reaction involving water that leads to the formation of new products. In this case, when borax dissolves, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na⁺) and borate ions (B(OH)4⁻).

...