Abstract:
Sodium Silicate is a colourless
compound of oxides of sodium and
silica. It has a range of chemical formula
varying in sodium oxide (Na2O) and
silicon dioxide or silica (SiO2) contents
or ratios. It is soluble in water and it is
prepared by reacting silica sand and
sodium carbonate at a high temperature
ranging from 1200 to 1400OC. Aqueous
solution of sodium silicate is called water
glass.
Sodium silicates are produced in the
form of a variety of compounds ranging
from Na2O.4SiO2 to 2Na2O.SiO2 by
properly proportioning the reactants.
Sodium silicates varying in ratio from
Na2O.1.6SiO2 to Na2O.4SiO2 are known as colloidal silicates. These are sold as
20% to 50% aqueous solutions called
water glass.
