Fluosilicic acid

Description

A colorless, fuming liquid that is available as an aqueous solution. In water, SiF4 and HF combine to form fluosilicic acid. It is a strong acid that will attack Glass and stoneware. Dilute solutions (1-2%) are used for sterilizing bottles, disinfecting copper and brass vessels, as well as for killing fungus on wood, masonry, and Plaster. Fluosilicic acid is also used for fluoridating water, cleaning Leather, and for hardening Cement, and Lime.

Synonyms and Related Terms

fluorosilicic acid; hydrogen hexafluorosilicate; hexafluosilicic acid; hydrosilicofluoric acid; hydrofluosilicic acid; silicofluoric acid;

Chemical structure

Risks

• Contact, inhalation or ingestion will cause severe corrosion of skin and mucous membranes.
• Avoid all contact.
• Non combustible.
• CDC Fine Chemicals: SDS

Physical and Chemical Properties

Miscible in water.

Composition	H2SiF6
CAS	16961-83-4
Melting Point	(dec)
Molecular Weight	mol. wt. = 144.1

Resources and Citations

• Thomas Gregory, The Condensed Chemical Dictionary, Reinhold Publishing, New York, 3rd ed., 1942

• Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986

• The Merck Index, Martha Windholz (ed.), Merck Research Labs, Rahway NJ, 10th edition, 1983 Comment: entry 4220

• Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997