Product Details
Sodium metasilicate pentahydrate, also known as instant water glass, is an inorganic salt product. It appears as a non-toxic, odorless, and pollution-free white powder or crystalline granule. The compound is readily soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol and acids, and it is hygroscopic. Its aqueous solution is alkaline, and it easily absorbs moisture and deliquesces in air. This product exhibits strong detergency, emulsification, dispersion, wetting, and permeability, along with pH buffering capacity. It can neutralize acidic dirt, emulsify fats and oils, deflocculate inorganic substances, and provide anti-corrosion properties for metals.Among the various sodium metasilicate types, the pentahydrate form is the most widely used and representative. Its crystalline molecular formula is typically written as Na₂SiO₃·5H₂O. Sodium metasilicate pentahydrate possesses the general properties of sodium silicate and sodium metasilicate, and has a certain capacity to bind calcium and magnesium ions. Notably, its magnesium ion binding capacity exceeds 260 mg MgCO₃/g (35°C, 20 min). Because it offers excellent buffering alkalinity in detergents, it provides corrosion protection for light metals (such as aluminum and zinc), as well as for glassware and porcelain. It also helps suspend and emulsify dirt and softens water to a certain extent.
Chemical Properties
| English name: | SODIUM METASILICATE PENTAHYDRATE |
| English alternative name: | metsogranular;drymetakeiso5aq;dorimetakeiso5aq;Sodiumsilicatehydrate;SODIUMMETASILICATE5H2O;SODIUMSILICATE, PENTAHYDRATE;SodiChemicalbookumMestasilicatePentahydrate;SODIUMMETASILICATEPENTAHYDRATE;Sodiummetasi-licatepentehydrate;sodiumsilicatehydrate(na2sio3.5h2o) |
| Molecular formula | H5NaO4Si |
| Molecular weight | 120.11 |
| Melting point | 1088℃ |
| Density | 2.61 |
| Refractive index | 1.52 |
| Storage conditions Form | Store at room temperature |
| Color | Solid |
| Odor | White |
| pH | odourless |
| value | 12,5 (in aqueous solution: 10 g/, 20 °C) |
| Water solubility | Soluble in cold water |
| Merck | 148,642 |
| CAS Database | 10213-79-3(CAS DataBase Reference) |
Product Application
It is widely used in household laundry detergents, laundry pastes, industrial detergents, food cleaners, metal cleaners, textile treatment, and paper deinking. It serves as an important additive in concentrated detergents, as well as in phosphate-free and low-phosphate detergents. It is also applied in the ceramic and petroleum industries. The product appears as white, square crystals or spherical particles, and is non-toxic and odorless. It dissolves readily in water but tends to absorb moisture and deliquesce upon exposure to air. It possesses the ability to remove dirt, emulsify, disperse, wet, penetrate, and buffer pH. Concentrated solutions are corrosive to fabrics and skin.
