silica gel, chemical compound. It is a colloidal form of silica, and usually resembles coarse white sand. It may be prepared by partial dehydration of metasilicic acid, H2SiO3. Because it has many tiny pores, it has great adsorptive power. It is used as a drying agent, as a catalyst or catalyst carrier, and in purifying various substances. Silica aerogel is fully dehydrated silica gel; it is very porous and is often used in insulation, e.g., for refrigerators.
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