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Colloidal silica gel with light opalescence. Silica gel is an amorphous and porous form of silicon dioxide (silica), consisting of an irregular tridimensional framework of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms with nanometer-scale voids and pores. The voids may contain water or some other liquids, or may be filled by gas or vacuum.
In acidic solutions, the silicate ions react with hydrogen ions to form silicic acids, which tend to decompose into hydrated silicon dioxide gel. [citation needed] Heated to drive off the water, the result is a hard translucent substance called silica gel, widely used as a desiccant. It can withstand temperatures up to 1100 °C. [citation needed]
The particle size of the stationary phase is generally finer in flash column chromatography than in gravity column chromatography. For example, one of the most widely used silica gel grades in the former technique is mesh 230 – 400 (40 – 63 μm), while the latter technique typically requires mesh 70 – 230 (63 – 200 μm) silica gel. [6]
Precipitated silica is an amorphous form of silica (silicon dioxide, SiO 2); it is a white, powdery material. Precipitated silica is produced by precipitation from a solution containing silicate salts. The three main classes of amorphous silica are pyrogenic silica, precipitated silica and silica gel.
Silicic acids can be seen as hydrated forms of silica, namely 2 H 2x SiO x+2 = SiO 2 ·(H 2 O) x. Indeed, in concentrated solutions, silicic acids generally polymerize and condense, and ultimately degrade to silicon dioxide and water. The intermediate stages may be very thick liquids or gel-like solids.
Colloidal silicas are most often prepared in a multi-step process where an alkali-silicate solution is partially neutralized, leading to the formation of silica nuclei. The subunits of colloidal silica particles are typically in the range of 1 to 5 nm. Whether or not these subunits are joined depends on the conditions of polymerization.