Sodium orthosilicate is the chemical compound with the molecular formula . It is one of the sodium silicates, specifically an orthosilicate, formally a salt of the unstable orthosilicic acid .M,. G. Barker, P. G.Gadd (1981): "The preparation and crystal structure of sodium orthosilicate, ." Journal of Chemical Research, London] Chemical Society, volume 9, pages S:274 (synopse), M:3446-3466 (main).
Uses Sodium orthosilicate has been considered as an interfacial tension reducing additive in the waterflooding of oil fields for enhanced oil extraction. In laboratory settings, it was found to be more effective than sodium hydroxide for some types of oil.
Sodium orthosilicate has been found to stabilize ferrate films as an anticorrosion treatment of iron and steel surfaces.John R. Harrison (1954): "Process for treating metals with ferrate solution". US Patent US2850415A, assigned to E. I. du Pont de Nemours
Natural occurrence Sodium orthosilicate has not been found to occur in nature. However, the mineral chesnokovite, chemically the related salt disodium dihydrogen orthosilicate , was identified in the Kola Peninsula in 2007.
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