Synthetic magnesium silicate Synthetic magnesium silicate Synthetic magnesium silicates are white, odorless, finely divided powders formed by the precipitation reaction of water-soluble sodium silicate (water glass) and a water-soluble magnesium salt such as magnesium chloride, magnesium nitrate or magnesium sulfate. The composition of the precipitate depends on the ratio of the components in the reaction medium, the addition of the correcting substances, and the way in which they are precipitated. The molecular formula is typically written as MgO:XSiO, where X denotes the average mole ratio of SiO to MgO. The product is hydrated and the formula is sometimes written MgO:XSiO•HO to show the
Magnesium silicide in the interior of the unit cell. The coordination numbers of Si and Mg are eight and four, respectively. Magnesium silicide Magnesium silicide, MgSi, is an inorganic compound consisting of magnesium and silicon. It can be produced by heating silicon dioxide, SiO, found in sand, with excess magnesium. The process first forms silicon metal and magnesium oxide, and, if an excess of magnesium is used, the silicide is formed: If an excess of Mg is present, MgSi is formed from the reaction of the remaining magnesium with the silicon: These reactions proceed exothermically. Magnesium silicide is used to create aluminium