He Orthosilicic acid Is a predominant chemical compound of a family of compounds known as silicic acids. These acids contain the silicon element bound to oxygen and hydroxides whose general formula is [SiO X (OH) 4-2x ] N .
In the specific case of orthosalicylic acid, its chemical formula is H 4 SiO 4 . Its structure is shown in figure 1.
Figure 1: Structure of orthosilicic acid.
Ortosilicic acid is a hydrated form of silicon dioxide, from the family of Miscellaneous Silicates. These are inorganic compounds in which the largest metal oxoanion is the silicate, to which no atom or a non-metallic atom is attached.
It is considered as the parent substance from which a large family of minerals (silicates), salts and esters are derived. The acid can only be prepared as an unstable solution in water;
Their molecules easily condense together to form water and polymer chains, rings, sheets or three-dimensional networks that make up the structural units of silica gel and many minerals that have very low solubility in water (Britannica, 1998).
Ortosilicic acid is found naturally in freshwater and seawater, also found in certain beverages such as beer.
It is produced by a non-biological process called hydration involving water and quartz, which is known to be common on Earth. The reaction that produces silicic acid from quartz can be written as:
SiO 2 + 2H 2 O → H 4 SiO 4
The compound is commonly referred to as soluble silica, since orthosilicic acid is the way in which the organism obtains the mineral silicon, which is necessary in the synthesis of collagen and in the formation of bones.
Although orthosilicic acid is found in water, cases of people with a lack of silicon are known. As a result, the use of orthosilicic acid supplements has increased (Orthosilicic Acid, S.F.).
Physical and chemical properties
Ortosilicic acid is an amorphous (non-crystalline) white solid without a distinctive odor (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2017). Their appearance is shown in figure 2.
Figure 2: appearance of orthosilicic acid.
Its molecular weight is 60.06 g / mol, its density is 1.8 g / ml and it is insoluble in cold water and soluble in hot water and ethanol (Royal Society of Chemistry, 2015).
The compound is incompatible with fluorides such as hydrogen fluoride, zenon hexafluoride, oxygen difluoride and chlorine trifluoride. The substance may explode when it is soaked and heated with magnesium.
Reactivity and hazards
Ortosilicic acid is classified as a stable compound, but mutagenic effects have been found for somatic cells of certain non-human mammals.
The substance acts as a desiccant and may cause irritation, dryness of the skin and cause dryness and irritation of the mucous membranes and respiratory tract in the event of severe exposure.
No adverse effects are expected in case of eye contact, but dust may cause mechanical irritation.
May be harmful if swallowed in large quantities. However, no adverse effects are expected for industrial numerical management. Epidemiological studies indicate a low potential for adverse health effects (Material Safety Data Sheet Silicic acid, 2013).
Applications
Ortosilicic acid is the main form of bioavailable silicon. It has been proposed that relatively insoluble forms of silica may also release small but significant amounts of silicon in the biological compartments.
For example, colloidal silicic acid, silica gel and zeolites, although relatively insoluble in water, may increase the concentrations of water-soluble silica and are believed to depend on specific structural physicochemical characteristics (Lela Munjas Jurkić, 2013) .
Collectively, the food supply provides enough silicon in the forms mentioned above that could be absorbed and significantly improve human health in general despite the negative perception of silica as a health hazard.
Dietary sources of bioavailable silica include whole grains, cereals, beer and some vegetables such as green beans. Silica in the form of silica, or silicon dioxide (SiO2), is a common food additive but has a limited intestinal absorption. (Ray Sahelian, 2016).
Silicon has already been associated with bone mineralization, synthesis of collagen, skin, hair and nails, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, strengthening of the immune system and also other disorders or pharmacological effects.
It has been suggested that silicon has a role in the formation of connective tissue and is present in 1-10 ppm in hair.
Choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid is a bioavailable form of silicon that has been found to improve cutaneous microrelief and mechanical properties of skin in women with photo-aged skin.
Oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid had a positive effect on tensile strength including the elasticity and load of hair breakage and resulted in thicker hair (Barel A, 2005).
In a 2008 study, 136 women with osteopenia took orthosilicic acid along with calcium and vitamin D, or a simple placebo every day for a year. After completing the year, participants who received orthosilicic acid had shown greater improvements in bone formation.
Scientists attributed this to the ability of orthosilicic acid to stimulate the production of collagen (a protein found in connective tissue) and to promote the development of"bone-forming cells."
One of the first studies, conducted in 1997, investigated the effects of orthosilicic acid on joint health in calves.
Researchers found that calves that were fed an orthosilicic acid supplementation typically had a higher concentration of collagen in their cartilage, indicating stronger and healthier joints.
The researchers were not entirely sure whether orthosilicic acid supplementation would result in the same effects in humans, although more recent studies suggest that OSA can replicate similar results.
References
- Barel A, C. M. (2005). Effect of oral intake of choline-stabilized orthosilicic acid on skin, nails and hair in women with photodamaged skin. Arch Dermatol Res. 297 (4), 147-153. Taken from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Britannica, T. E. (1998, July 20). Silicic acid. Retrieved from Encyclopædia Britannica: britannica.com.
- Lela Munjas Jurkić, I.C. (2013). Biological and therapeutic effects of ortho-silicic acid and some ortho-silicic acid-releasing compounds: New perspectives for therapy. Nutr Metab (Lond). 10: 2. Taken from ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Material Safety Data Sheet Silicic acid. (2013, May 21). Retrieved from sciencelab: Taken from sciencelab.com.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2017, March 4). PubChem Compound Database; CID = 14942.Retrieved from PubChem: Taken from pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
- Orthosilicic Acid. (S.F.). Retrieved from supplementpolice: Taken from supplementpolice.com.
- Ray Sahelian, M. (2016, March 4). Silicon supplement health benefit, risk, side effects, orthosilicic acid. Retrieved from raysahelian: Taken from raysahelian.com.
- Royal Society of Chemistry. (2015). Silicic acid. Retrieved from chemspider: Taken from chemspider.com.