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DictionarysilicaSilicon dioxide
noun

silica

SIL-ih-kuh/ˈsɪlɪkə/

Silicon dioxide found in quartz, sand, and many minerals.

Quartz crystals consist of silica, a compound of silicon and oxygen.

Clear quartz crystals beside a small mound of clean silica sand, geometric crystal faces and granular texture drawn clearly, no chemical labels.
Etymology
silicaLatinflint, pebble

The Latin word for flint supplied the name for silica, the hard compound silicon dioxide. The connection is between a familiar stony material and its chemical identity.

In context

Rackham Graduate School - University of Michigan33:30
if you look, for example, at silica is what quartz is made out of and also what window glass is made out of.
From Blue Butterflies to New Materials and Medical Treatments

More examples

  • This sand contains mostly silica, along with traces of other minerals.
  • Workers wear respirators to avoid breathing fine silica dust.
  • Manufacturers melt silica with other ingredients to make glass.

Forms

silica

siliceous adjective — Containing silica or made primarily of it.

Similar words

silicon dioxide
Names the same compound by its chemical composition.