Silica gel is fascinating stuff. Apparently you ensure it is by getting Sodium Silicate and reacting it with Hydrochloric acid

Na2SiO3 + 2 HCl → H2SiO3 + 2 NaCl

 

the silicic acid (H2SiO3) then looses water

H2SiO3 → SiO2 + H2O

 

 

the SiO2 then arrives away from option with every single silicon bonding to other silicons by way of an oxygen

  |       |
      O       O
      |       |
- O - Si - O -Si - O -
      |       |
      O       
      |       |
- O - Si - O -Si - O -
      |       |
      O       O
      |       |

alalthough it is 3D and possibly roughly a tetrahederal framework and never quite regular

 

These type loads of microscopic spheres in between 0.5nm to 3μm which turn out fusing collectively to type a framework wih loads of surface area spot - about 400m2 every gram

 

It is then washed and dried out, after which baked to generate away the water. when you then place it inside a moist problem the drinking water will stick towards the surface area again, and due to the fact it has so a good deal surface area it could absorb plenty of drinking water about 25% of it's weight.

 

Silicone may be a distinct structure, CH3 groups are additional to cease it bonding aside through the chain.

 

 

	CH3     CH3
    |       |
O - Si - O -Si - O
    |       |
    CH3     CH3

So you receive prolonged molecules (polymers) which could slide previous a single another, therefore it is flexible