sodium silicate

English

Noun

sodium silicate (plural sodium silicates)

1. Chemical compounds with the formula Na_2xSi_y,O_2y+x or (Na₂O)_x·(SiO₂)_y, such as sodium metasilicate Na₂SiO₃, sodium orthosilicate Na₄SiO₄, and sodium pyrosilicate Na₆Si₂O₇.
2. A mixture of such compounds, especially the metasilicate, used in the formulation of cements, coatings, passive fire protection, textile and lumber processing, manufacture of refractory ceramics, as adhesives, and in the production of silica gel.

   Synonyms: soluble glass, water glass