State with equations what happens when borax is heated on a platinum wire loop and to resulting transparent mass, a mixture amount of `CuO` is added and the mixture is again heated.
(a) First in the oxidising flame and
(b) Then in the reducing flame of a Bunsen burner ?

Explanation

To answer the question, we will break down the process into steps and provide the corresponding chemical equations for each reaction that occurs when borax is heated and then treated with CuO in both oxidizing and reducing flames.

### Step 1: Heating Borax
When borax (sodium tetraborate decahydrate, Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O) is heated on a platinum wire loop, it undergoes dehydration and decomposition. The initial reaction can be represented as:

\[ \text{Na}_2\text{B}_4\text{O}_7 \cdot 10\text{H}_2\text{O} \xrightarrow{\text{heat}} \text{Na}_2\text{B}_4\text{O}_7 + 10\text{H}_2\text{O} \]

Upon further heating, borax can decompose to form sodium metaborate and boric anhydride:
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