Silicon dioxide
Silicon dioxide
Silicon dioxide (pronunciation: /ˈsɪlɪkən daɪˈɒksaɪd/), also known as silica, is a chemical compound that is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO2. It has been known since ancient times.
Etymology
The term "silicon" originates from the Latin word 'silex' or 'silicis', meaning flint or hard stone. The term "dioxide" comes from the Greek words 'di', meaning two, and 'oxide', meaning oxygen compound.
Description
Silicon dioxide is most commonly found in nature as quartz, as well as in various living organisms. In many parts of the world, it is a major constituent of sand. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor.
Uses
Silicon dioxide is used primarily in the production of glass for windows, drinking glasses, beverage bottles, and many other types of glass. It is also used in the pharmaceutical and food industry as a flow agent and is a common additive in foods where it is used primarily as an anticaking agent.
Related Terms
- Quartz: A hard, crystalline mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms, it is the most common form of crystalline silica.
- Sand: A granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles, it is defined by size, being finer than gravel and coarser than silt. Sand can also refer to a textural class of soil or soil type.
- Glass: A non-crystalline, often transparent amorphous solid, that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in things like window panes, tableware, and optics.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Silicon dioxide
- Wikipedia's article - Silicon dioxide
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski