Talk:Silicon dioxide
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[edit] Silicon dioxide in food
Can you please tell me why I would find Silicon dioxide in the ingredients list on a packet of food and how safe is it to consume?
I second this --Plonk420 22:09, 19 Apr 2005 (UTC)
While I'm not sure why it exactly would be an *additive*, I do know that many people commonly ingest it - in the form of vegetables. Silica is fairly common in plant cell walls. One study I know of (there might be more) suggests that silicon dioxide may help lower cholesterol [1]. Of course, I doubt that that's what Burger King had in mind. One theory says that silica is added to increase the crunch in, say, pies or burgers. Silica is poorly absorbed by the body, so it shouldn't be too much of an issue (and again, it's commonly found in edible plants). Im guessing that the danger with eating those silica gel packets found in beef jerky packages and other snacks (used to keep the pack dry) is the possibility of *inhaling* it. That would cause silicosis, which would be bad. As a food additive, it *should* be stuck on food well enought that inhalation shouldn't be a problem. bluemonq 23:26, 7 May 2006 (UTC)
Inhaling crystalline silica DUST can cause silicosis. The gel packets dont have dust, they typically have beads. If you want to see why you should not eat them, pour a fresh dry pack of the beads into water and watch them explode...
[edit] Use in tires
Silica is now being used in motorcycle tire manufacturing. It makes the tires more complient and temperature stable. This lets manufacturers make tires that grip better and still handle loads, without excesive ware from higher temperatures. It also affects wet weather traction.
[edit] Reactions of silica
Please outline some of the basic reactions that silica gel is likely to undergo, especially those relating to the preparation of the products listed in the page. could you also include a method for purifying the silica source into the final silica product.
[edit] Silica in shampoo
Isn't it a good thing to have silica in shampoo? But what does it do in it? 71.250.17.62 02:20, 17 June 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Chemistry
As far as I know there is no free silicon in nature, but silicon is in oxidized form; in silicon dioxide (quartz etc.) or in complex oxides with metals (silicates). So there is little to happen (chemically) for silicon in a fire or in a lightning. I removed the fires and strokes of lightning producing silicon dioxide(and fulgurites added there afterwards). --AB-fi 18:29, 11 July 2006 (UTC)
- It was badly written. I meant to say that silicon dioxide could be formed naturally from silicates by some high temperature processes. I apologise for lack of thought and poor proof reading. The section is now much improved compared to the time when my sentences were added. Jaraalbe 21:43, 11 July 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Silicon dioxide solubility
How soluble is silicon dioxide? My chemistry teacher told me to always remember nothing is insoluble. That, in water (an excellent solvent) everything disolves a bit. Even gold, plastics and, yup, sand. So whats the figure? It should be included in the table, along with any solvent it dissolves in strongly enough in to be consideded actually quite soluble. I would love to find something that will dissolve the beakers in which it was created! - Jack (talk) 23:53, 7 August 2006 (UTC)
- The solubility of silica in water is approximately 0.012 G in 100g, which classifies it as insoluble (120 ppm).192.122.237.11 22:42, 3 November 2006 (UTC)
- And if you want something that dissolves beakers, try HF. Nasty, nasty stuff. WB_Frontier
