what what is silica used for
Silicon dioxide is used to produce elemental silicon. The process involves carbothermic reduction in an electric arc furnace: SiO 2 + 2 C â Si + 2 CO Food and pharmaceutical applications. Silica is a common additive in food production, where it is used primarily as a flow agent in powdered foods, or to adsorb water in hygroscopic applications.
Silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide, also known as silica (from the Latin silex), is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO2, most commonly found in nature as quartz and in various living organisms. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand.