Heat is probably quite important here, because just as it takes NaOH literally months to eat through glass at room temperature, it does it within seconds when molten.
@TakronRust if it does react, I'm not sure. That reaction consumes silicon dioxide and NaOH to yield sodium silicate, while here silicon, water, and NaOH produce sodium silicate and hydrogen. I might try it.
Heat is probably quite important here, because just as it takes NaOH literally months to eat through glass at room temperature, it does it within seconds when molten.
Kendrana 10 months ago
I have seen Nurdrage dissolve glass with liquid NaOH, I wonder how vigorous the reaction would be if you put the Si in with molten NaOH.
TakronRust 10 months ago
@TakronRust if it does react, I'm not sure. That reaction consumes silicon dioxide and NaOH to yield sodium silicate, while here silicon, water, and NaOH produce sodium silicate and hydrogen. I might try it.
hkparker 10 months ago
Pet stores sell pure SiO2, white sand used in aquariums.
norxcontacts 10 months ago
@norxcontacts good call. My source of choise would be cab-o-sil, because I know its very pure and is already extremely fine.
hkparker 10 months ago