sodium silicate

Definition of sodium silicate

: any of various water-soluble substances obtained in the form of crystals, glasses, powders, or aqueous solutions usually by melting silica with a sodium compound (such as sodium carbonate or sodium hydroxide): such as

a or sodium orthosilicate : a corrosive crystalline substance regarded as a salt Na₄SiO₄ or 2Na₂O.SiO₂ of orthosilicic acid or as a mixture of sodium metasilicate with sodium hydroxide and used chiefly in heavy-duty cleaning compositions

b or sodium metasilicate : a crystalline salt Na₂SiO₃ or Na₂O.SiO₂ either in the anhydrous or hydrated form used chiefly as a detergent

c or sodium sesquisilicate : a corrosive crystalline salt regarded as intermediate in composition between sodium orthosilicate and sodium metasilicate and used in heavy-duty cleaning compositions —not used systematically

d : water glass

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Dictionary Entries near sodium silicate

sodium pyrosulfite

sodium salicylate

sodium sesquicarbonate

Statistics for sodium silicate

Cite this Entry

“Sodium silicate.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sodium%20silicate. Accessed 12 December 2019.