Reaction between sodium hydroxide and silicon dioxide [duplicate]








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[Does silicon dioxide react with alkalis?](/questions/19502/does-silicon-dioxide-react-with-alkalis)

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Closed 2 years ago.



I was trying to make sodium silicate according to the following reaction:  

$\ce{SiO2 + 2NaOH -> Na2SiO3 + H2O}$  

I used colloidal silica available as an intestinal adsorbent since reaction with crystalline SiO2 would require a lot of heat. I mixed a solution containing 20 g of NaOH with a suspension of 15 g of SiO2, however, nothing seemed to happen. I checked the pH and it was still highly basic. Is there any way I could get the chemicals to react? Should I try bringing them to a boil?




Definitely, you should boil the solution of silica and sodium hydroxide few hours. I did this experiment many years ago. And, as I remember this, it is extremely dangerous and very boring experiment. So boring that I still remember it approximately after 40 years.


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