Sodium orthosilicate is the

chemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance composed of many identical molecules (or molecular entities) containing atoms from more than one chemical element held together by chemical bonds. A molecule consisting of atoms of only one element ...

with the molecular formula . It is one of the

sodium silicate Sodium silicate is a generic name for chemical compounds with the formula or ·, such as sodium metasilicate (), sodium orthosilicate (), and sodium pyrosilicate (). The anions are often polymeric. These compounds are generally colorless tra ...

s, specifically an

orthosilicate In chemistry, orthosilicate is the anion , or any of its salts and esters. It is one of the silicate anions. It is occasionally called the silicon tetroxide anion or group.C. A. Kumins, and A. E. Gessler (1953), "Short-Cycle Syntheses of Ultr ...

, formally a

salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

of the unstable orthosilicic acid .M,. G. Barker, P. G.Gadd (1981): "The preparation and crystal structure of sodium orthosilicate, ." ''Journal of Chemical Research'', London] Chemical Society, volume 9, pages S:274 (synopse), M:3446-3466 (main).

Uses

Sodium orthosilicate has been considered as an surface tension, interfacial tension reducing additive in the waterflooding of

oil field A petroleum reservoir or oil and gas reservoir is a subsurface accumulation of hydrocarbons contained in porous or fractured rock formations. Such reservoirs form when kerogen (ancient plant matter) is created in surrounding rock by the prese ...

s for enhanced

oil An oil is any nonpolar chemical substance that is composed primarily of hydrocarbons and is hydrophobic (does not mix with water) and lipophilic (mixes with other oils). Oils are usually flammable and surface active. Most oils are unsaturate ...

extraction. In laboratory settings, it was found to be more effective than

sodium hydroxide Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula . It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations and hydroxide anions . Sodium hydroxide is a highly corrosive base (chemistry), ...

for some types of oil. Sodium orthosilicate has been found to stabilize

ferrate Ferrate loosely refers to a material that can be viewed as containing anionic iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic t ...

films as an anticorrosion treatment of

iron Iron is a chemical element; it has symbol Fe () and atomic number 26. It is a metal that belongs to the first transition series and group 8 of the periodic table. It is, by mass, the most common element on Earth, forming much of Earth's o ...

and

steel Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon that demonstrates improved mechanical properties compared to the pure form of iron. Due to steel's high Young's modulus, elastic modulus, Yield (engineering), yield strength, Fracture, fracture strength a ...

surfaces.John R. Harrison (1954): "Process for treating metals with ferrate solution". US Paten
US2850415A
assigned to E. I. du Pont de Nemours

Natural occurrence

Sodium orthosilicate has not been found in nature. However, the mineral chesnokovite, chemically the related salt disodium dihydrogen orthosilicate []₂[] · 8, was recently identified in the Kola Peninsula.

References

{{reflist [ ategory:Silicates Sodium compounds

Uses

Natural occurrence

See also

References