Introduction
The main focus of this investigation is to find how silica gel has benefitted and will continue to benefit society. Silica gel has an interesting history as well being involved in WW1 & WW2, and has been used in multiple ways since. The key ideas of silica gel is that it absorbs moisture to keep foods fresh.
Silica gel is a mainly harmless product that is used to adsorb liquids or moisture. SiO2 or silicon dioxide is a transparent compound that is insoluble in water and is tasteless if consumed. Silica gel has multiple molecular formulas these being (SiO2)n, SiO2 or O2Si and has a constant molecular weight of 60.083 g/mol. The silica gel holds a linear structure. Silica gel is a compound of silicon and oxygen. Silica gel is a desiccant which means it adsorbs and holds water vapour. Some of the properties of silica gel include its large surface area which allows the little beads of silica gel to adsorb much more than its own weight in liquids. Silica gel is an odourless, non corrosive substance. The silica gel can come in many mesh sizes and be used for multiple purposes. Such as keeping door from the inside of new shoes and clothing, protecting documents from moisture and even keeping foods fresher. Silica gel was patented in 1919 by a chemistry professor named Walter A. Patrick.
Silica gel was known to exist since the year 1640, although it was just a scientific curiosity, scientists had been studying silica gel but not yet found its use. The silica gel has been used in major wars such as WW1 and WW2. The gel had found its way into gas mask canisters in WW1 where it would be used to adsorb the vapours in the air and keep the wearer safe from toxic air born substances. In WW2 they found many more uses for the silica gel as they kept the gel in gun cases with their guns to reduce the moisture levels and prevent rust to their weapons. They also used the silica gel to keep penicillin dry for the medics in the field. The silica gel was even used to keep documents dry when necessary.
Silica gel benefits us because of its adsorbing properties. It benefits us because it can help protect items from the effects of condensation. The silica gel is placed in the packaging of items that are sensitive to condensations these items include metals because they will rust with too much moisture, leather which can be susceptible to mould growth with too much moisture. The silica gel also helps protect food from spoiling as the lack of moisture can stop the growth of mould and help the food last longer. Silica gel is also found in medication as you will find a little blue capsule in a bottle of pills that will contain silica gel, this silica gel keeps the inside of the bottle dry as any condensation in the bottle could ruin the pills. The silica gel is also super useful as it can be reused after it has adsorbed as much moisture as possible, once full just heat the silica gel in a conventional oven at 150 degrees Celsius and the moisture will be removed from the silica gel. The silica gel also benefits scientists as it is a polar compound and can be used to adsorb other polar compounds which can make silica gel very useful when it comes to chemical separations.
Silica gel can be used in many different ways these include; removing odour, stopping mould, drying out leaves, saving electronics from water damage, stopping rust, etc.. the properties of silica gel gives it many alternate uses and makes it very useful in everyday life. Being an adsorbent the silica gel can help prevent lots of damage to items and in some cases save items from damage that has already occurred. The silica gel has been used in the past to protect many types of metal from rust this includes horseshoes in storage, tools, weapons and other metal objects. The gel also has a way of protecting leathers from spoiling and cracking.
Silica gel is a relatively safe product with it being called “harmless”. Silica gel is not a harmless product with the exterior of it containing chemicals such as cobalt which can cause problems if the gel is consumed. Cobalt if consumed can have side effects such as vomiting, nausea and diarrhoea. The silica gel is also labeled as a choking hazard as the small beads can cause people or animals who consume the beads to choke. If the silica gel is not disposed of properly the gel can be problematic for animals as they could mistakenly eat the beads thinking they are food.
Conclusion
The discovery of silica gel was a great one as it created ways to protect foods, electronics, etc. the silica gel has also been found to have many uses that are helpful to us today. Silica gel has majorly benefitted society's but beware as the label suggests that you do not consume the beads as it can cause problems for your body. The silica gel is a desiccant as it can be used to adsorb the moisture from the air and protect many products from issues such as spoiling or rusting. Silica gel was one of the most useful discovery in 1919.
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