Is silica the same as Silicon?
Silica (Si) is a natural form of silicon that is slightly oxidized to form silicon dioxide (SiO2). Silicon dioxide is formed when silicon is exposed to oxygen (or air). A very thin layer of so-called ‘native oxide’ is formed on the surface when silicon is exposed to air under ambient conditions. Most people use the terms interchangeably because the non-oxidized element is rare. If you want to see silica, go to the desert or the beach. It is the principle component of sand and the quartz crystals. Silica is a semiconductor. it pulses with piezo-electric energy for computer chips and wrist watches. Silica is also one of the most abundant elements in the earth’s crust, along with natural aluminum. In its clay powder form, a special form of alumina silicate comprises Montmorillonite, nature’s “living clay”.
