sodium tetrahydridoborate

chemical compound

Also known as: sodium borohydride, sodium tetrahydroborate

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Sodium tetrahydridoborate, also known as sodium borohydride, is a crystalline compound with the chemical formula NaBH₄. It is a complex saline hydride and is widely used as a reducing agent in organic chemistry and various industrial applications. Hydrides are a class of chemical compounds where hydrogen is bonded to another element. Sodium borohydride is a derivative of the tetrahydridoborate anion (BH₄^-).12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

aldehyde
Oxidation-reduction reactions
…being lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄), sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), or hydrogen (H₂) in the presence of a transition catalyst such as nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), or rhodium (Rh).
Read More
…being lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH₄), sodium borohydride (NaBH₄), or hydrogen (H₂) in the presence of a transition catalyst such as nickel (Ni), palladium (Pd), platinum (Pt), or rhodium (Rh).
Read More

borane
Reactions and synthesis of boranes
…reaction of iodine (I₂) with sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH₄, commonly called sodium borohydride) in diglyme as a solvent, 2NaBH₄ + I₂ → B₂H₆(g) + 2NaI + H₂(g), or by reaction of a solid borohydride (i.e., a salt containing the BH₄⁻ ion) with an anhydrous acid, 2NaBH₄ + 2H₃PO₄ → B₂H₆(g) +…
Read More
…reaction of iodine (I₂) with sodium tetrahydroborate (NaBH₄, commonly called sodium borohydride) in diglyme as a solvent, 2NaBH₄ + I₂ → B₂H₆(g) + 2NaI + H₂(g), or by reaction of a solid borohydride (i.e., a salt containing the BH₄⁻ ion) with an anhydrous acid, 2NaBH₄ + 2H₃PO₄ → B₂H₆(g) +…
Read More