Page 212 - Encyclopedia of Chemical Compounds 3 Vols

O 2+

Ca 2+ Si O

O

OTHER NAMES:
Calcium metasilicate
Calcium Silicate
FORMULA:
CaSiO 3
ELEMENTS:
Calcium, silicon,
oxygen KE OVERVIEW
COMPOUND TYPE: The term calcium silicate (KAL-see-um SILL-i-kate) applies
Inorganic salt Y to a number of related compounds consisting of calcium,
silicon, and oxygen, all of which tend to occur in a hydrated
STATE: F
form. The most common of these forms is calcium metasili-
Solid
cate, for which data are given above. Calcium silicates with
A
MOLECULAR WEIGHT: C the formulas Ca 2 SiO 4 and Ca 3 SiO 5 are also well known.
116.16 g/mol
Calcium silicate is a component of many minerals, includ-
T
MELTING POINT: S ing afwillite, akermanite, andradite, calcite, centrallasite, crest-

1540 C (2800 F) moreite, diopside, eaklite, grammite, gyrolite, hillebrandite,
larnite, and wollastonite. In its pure form, calcium metasilicate
BOILING POINT:
is a white to off-white color capable of absorbing up to two and a
Not applicable
half times its weight of water. In this form, the hydrated powder
SOLUBILITY: retains its ability to flow freely. Addition of a mineral acid, such
Insoluble in water and as hydrochloric acid (HCl) results in the formation of a gel.
most other common
solvents
HOW IT IS MADE
Given its abundance in rocks and minerals, calcium meta-
silicate and its cousins can be extracted from a variety of

CHEMICAL COMPOUNDS 161