The Description of Sodium Silicate
The Description of Sodium Silicate
Sodium silicate is the common name for a compound sodium metasilicate, Na2SiO3, also known as water glass or liquid glass. It is available in aqueous solution and in solid form and is used in cements, passive fire protection, refractories, textile and lumber processing, and automobiles. Sodium carbonate and silicon dioxide react when molten to form sodium silicate and carbon dioxide:
Na2CO3 + SiO2 → Na2SiO3 + CO2
Anhydrous sodium silicate contains a chain polymeric anion composed of corner shared {SiO4} tetrahedral, and not a discrete SiO32− ion. In addition to the anhydrous form, there are hydrates with the formula Na2SiO3
Na2CO3 + SiO2 → Na2SiO3 + CO2
Anhydrous sodium silicate contains a chain polymeric anion composed of corner shared {SiO4} tetrahedral, and not a discrete SiO32− ion. In addition to the anhydrous form, there are hydrates with the formula Na2SiO3