2840 - Borates; peroxoborates (perborates):

This HTS category, 2840, encompasses various borate compounds and peroxoborates. Borates are salts or esters of boric acid, characterized by the presence of boron and oxygen. This classification includes both naturally occurring and synthetic forms of these compounds, which find applications in diverse industries such as detergents, ceramics, glass manufacturing, and as flame retardants. Peroxoborates, specifically mentioned, are a subclass of borates containing a peroxide group, often utilized as bleaching agents in laundry products.

Distinguishing this category from its siblings at the root level is crucial. Chapter 28, to which 2840 belongs, exclusively deals with inorganic chemicals. This means that while organic compounds containing boron might exist, they would be classified under different chapters. The focus here is strictly on inorganic borate salts and their derivatives. Unlike categories covering live animals or other raw materials, 2840 is dedicated to specific chemical substances.

Within the 2840 category, further distinctions are made through its subcategories. The subdivision into "Disodium tetraborate (refined borax)" highlights a particularly common and industrially significant borate. The remaining subcategories, "Other borates" and "Peroxoborates (perborates)," allow for the classification of a wide array of other borate compounds and the specific peroxide derivatives, ensuring comprehensive coverage of these important inorganic chemical products.