Abstract
AbstractSilica and silicates are generic names given to the family of silicon dioxide compounds derived from the dehydration–polymerization of silicic acid [Si(OH)4]. Silicic acid, variously called orthosilicic acid, monosilicic acid, or silicic acid monomer, is a weak tetravalent acid that has pKavalues of 9.9, 11.8, and 12. Although silicic acid is prevalent in natural waters and is readily available from acidification of commercial crystalline sodium silicate or metasilicate, it has a great propensity to polymerize by dehydration to form Si–O–Si anhydride bonds:urn:x-wiley:9780471478447:media:pc478:xm1Thus silicon dioxide (SiO2, silica) is the final and most stable product in normal conditions of silico‐oxygen acid polymerization. The molecule of silica represented by the formula SiO2is polymeric and is more accurately represented by the formula (SiO2)n, where n is a large number.
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