Sodium Silicate: Properties, Formula, and Applications
Sodium metasilicate or sodium silicate, as it is primarily called, a flaked, inorganic, powdered and solid substance or sodium salt. It consists of silicate in the form of a counter ion. The other name for this solution is Waterglass. This solid powdered substance is water-soluble, and when dissolved in water, it produces alkaline solutions.
The solution consists of the polymeric anion. It tends to be completely stable in neutral and alkaline solutions. However, the case is entirely different when it is about using sodium silicate in varied acidic solutions. In that case, the hydrogen ions react with the silicate ions, thus giving rise to silicic acids. These acids further get broken into hydrated silicon. When heated further, the solution gets rid of water and results in the production of silica gel which is a hard and translucent substance. This substance is used on an extensive scale in the form of a desiccant. It has the potential of withstanding temperatures up to 1100°C.
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Sodium Silicate Properties
Sodium silicate is a crystalline and colourless glassy solid. It can even be defined as a white powder. Sodium silicates that are high in their content of silicon can easily dissolve in water. Some of the most specific chemical and physical properties of sodium silicate include:
Count of hydrogen bond acceptors: 3
Molar mass or molecular weight: 122.062 g/mol
Count of the covalent bonds: 3
Complexity: 18.8
Sodium Silicate Formula
The sodium silicate chemical formula is Na2SiO3. It is the generic name and formula given to the majority of the chemical solutions.
Sodium Silicate Solution
Sodium silicate solution, which is also called Waterglass appears in the form of a highly versatile and inorganic chemical. You can prepare the Sodium silicate liquid by the combination of soda ash and sand at a very high temperature. Here soda ash is sodium carbonate, and its ration is adjusted with that of sand for yielding different types of products featuring exclusive functionalities. These products are widely used in different consumer and industrial product applications.
Is sodium silicate toxic? You must know that it is a non-explosive, non-toxic and non-flammable solution. However, it is an alkaline material, and therefore it has good chances of posing a danger to the eyes and the skin. The physiological issues that are produced due to the contact of sodium silicate might vary according to the alkalinity of the different silicates contained or involved. The problems might range from causing severe chemical burns to irritation.
Sodium silicate is indeed a non-toxic solution but it may pose harm to the skin and eyes. In addition to this, if you mistakenly inhale it, you are prone to get respiratory problems. In case you get such issues, make sure you report to a doctor immediately.
Sodium Silicate Uses
Sodium silicate board application is widely popular across the market. The largest use of this solution is in the production of cardboard. Other uses of sodium silicate include:
It is used at wastewater treatment units in the form of an iron flocculant and even as an alum coagulant.
Sodium silicate finds usage in the form of a fixative in the hand dyeing procedure.
It is used for the preservation of food and even in aquaculture and home-brewing.
Sodium silicate is also in use in the field of pottery.
Sodium Silicate Medical Uses
While not being directly used for medicinal purposes, sodium silicate along with other silicates serve as one of the essential ingredients in instant wrinkle removal creams. It is also used in products used for tightening the skin or for minimising the appearance of under-eye bags and wrinkles. Sodium silicate, when used in creams and lotions, can offer dramatic results. But it is to be noted that the fantastic results obtained from the use of this solution in different skincare products are not permanent. They are just for some hours. Sodium silicate, when used in creams and skincare products, works as water-cement. The moment the muscle starts moving; the solution starts cracking and thus leaves a white residue on the user’s skin.
Sodium silicate products are ideal for the treatment of concrete in the majority of masonry products. It helps in minimising porosity in plasters, concrete and stucco. The effect further helps in reducing the penetration of water. Sodium silicate has also been used in the form of an egg preservative for several years.
Users have been successful with this. The other uses of sodium silicate are as follows:
A combination of sawdust and sodium silicate is used between the skin layers of safes. It makes them fire-resistant.
Sodium silicate finds usage in repairing mufflers along with the fitting paste. When dissolved in water, it forms a very thick paste that you can easily apply on repairs.
Sodium silicate is used in the form of a sand binder when carrying out the sand casting procedure of steel or iron.
It is used in different detergent auxiliaries like complex and modified sodium disilicate.
It is also ideal for drilling fluids for making the borehole walls stable so that they do not collapse.
You can use it in the form of a substrate for the growth of algal in different aquaculture hatcheries.
All in all, there are large scale general and medicinal uses of sodium silicate. This widely used solution and salt make various scientific procedures simple and effective.
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FAQs on Sodium Silicate: Properties, Formula, and Applications
1. What is sodium silicate, and what is it commonly known as?
Sodium silicate is an inorganic compound, specifically a salt of silicic acid. It is not a single, fixed compound but a family of related compounds with the general formula (Na₂O)ₓ·SiO₂. It is most commonly known as water glass or liquid glass because, in its liquid form, it dissolves in water to create a viscous, alkaline solution. It can also exist as a white powder or as a clear, glassy solid.
2. What is the general chemical formula for sodium silicate?
There isn't a single chemical formula for all sodium silicates, as they represent a range of compounds. The most common form, sodium metasilicate, has the formula Na₂SiO₃. However, a more general formula, (Na₂O)ₓ·SiO₂, is often used to show that the ratio of sodium oxide (Na₂O) to silica (SiO₂) can vary, which in turn changes the properties of the specific silicate.
3. What are the key physical and chemical properties of sodium silicate?
Sodium silicate's versatility stems from its unique properties. Key examples include:
- Physical Properties: It can be a colourless glassy solid, a white powder, or a thick, viscous liquid. It is highly soluble in water but generally insoluble in alcohols.
- Chemical Properties: Its solutions are strongly alkaline, with a pH typically between 11 and 13. This alkalinity allows it to neutralize acids. It is an excellent binder and adhesive, which hardens upon reacting with carbon dioxide in the air.
4. How is sodium silicate (water glass) produced on an industrial scale?
Industrially, sodium silicate is produced by reacting a mixture of silica sand (silicon dioxide, SiO₂) and soda ash (sodium carbonate, Na₂CO₃) at extremely high temperatures (over 1000°C) in a furnace. This high-temperature fusion process creates solid sodium silicate, which appears as a glassy solid. This solid is then dissolved in water under heat and pressure to create the viscous liquid form known as water glass.
5. Why are solutions of sodium silicate alkaline?
Sodium silicate solutions are alkaline due to a chemical process called hydrolysis. Sodium silicate is a salt formed from a strong base (sodium hydroxide, NaOH) and a weak acid (silicic acid, H₂SiO₃). When it dissolves in water, the silicate ion (SiO₃²⁻) reacts with water molecules. This reaction removes hydrogen ions (H⁺) from the water, leaving an excess of hydroxide ions (OH⁻). This increased concentration of OH⁻ ions is what makes the solution alkaline.
6. What are the most important industrial applications of sodium silicate?
Due to its unique binding and alkaline properties, sodium silicate has many important applications across different industries. These include:
- Detergents and Soaps: It acts as a binder and helps suspend dirt, preventing it from redepositing on surfaces.
- Adhesives and Binders: Used extensively for manufacturing cardboard, paper tubes, and in foundry moulds.
- Construction: It is applied as a concrete densifier, a sealant for porous materials like concrete, and in specialty cements.
- Water Treatment: Functions as a coagulant, helping to clump together and remove suspended impurities from water.
- Textile Industry: Used in dyeing and printing processes as a fixative to help bind dyes to fabric.
7. How does liquid sodium silicate harden or cure into a solid?
Liquid sodium silicate hardens primarily through a reaction with carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere. The alkaline sodium silicate solution reacts with the naturally acidic CO₂ in the air. This reaction neutralises the sodium oxide component of the silicate, causing the silica part to polymerise and precipitate out of the solution as a hard, glassy silica gel. This process effectively removes water and solidifies the material, explaining its effectiveness as a sealant and binder.
8. What are the main safety hazards associated with handling sodium silicate?
The primary safety concern with sodium silicate is its high alkalinity, which makes it a strong irritant and corrosive substance. Key hazards include:
- Skin and Eye Contact: Direct contact with the solution can cause significant irritation or chemical burns.
- Inhalation: Breathing in mists or dust of sodium silicate can irritate the respiratory tract, leading to coughing and breathing difficulties.
- Ingestion: If swallowed, it can cause serious damage to the digestive system. For these reasons, using proper personal protective equipment (PPE), like gloves and safety glasses, is essential when handling it.
