Progress in polymeric chemistry of borates

Data on low- and macroanion metal oxoborates in crystal, amorphous and glasseous states, in solution, melt and gaseous phase are generalized in review of pullications from 20s up to the present time. An attempt was made to present the logical and consistent picture of their composition, to show new methods of study, to simplify the prediction of properties of technical materials and improve the technology of their production. Borate variety and their properties are explained by the change of macroanion configurations and conformations in response to change of external effects due to flexibility of B-O-B bonds at the cost of O atoms in the state transition from sp2- to sp3 hybridization with B atoms