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Hexafluorosilicic acid is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula (H3O)2SiF6 (also written as (H3O)2[SiF6]). It is a colorless liquid rarely encountered undiluted. Hexafluorosilicic acid has a distinctive sour taste and pungent smell. It is produced naturally on a large scale in volcanoes. It is manufactured as a precursor to aluminum trifluoride and synthetic cryolite. It is commonly used as a source of fluoride for water fluoridation. Salts derived from hexafluorosilicic acid are called hexafluorosilicates.
Other names
Fluorosilicic acid,
fluosilic acid,
hydrofluorosilicic acid,
silicofluoride,
silicofluoric acid,
oxonium hexafluorosilanediuide,
oxonium hexafluoridosilicate(2−)
Uses
The majority of the hexafluorosilicic acid is converted to aluminium fluoride and cryolite. These materials are central to the conversion of aluminium ore into aluminium metal. The conversion to aluminium trifluoride is described as:
H2SiF6 + Al2O3 → 2 AlF3 + SiO2 + H2O
Hexafluorosilicic acid is also converted to a variety of useful hexafluorosilicate salts. The potassium salt is used in the production of porcelains, the magnesium salt for hardened concretes and as an insecticide, and the barium salts for phosphors.
Hexafluorosilicic acid is also commonly used for water fluoridation in several countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Republic of Ireland. In the U.S., about 40,000 tons of fluorosilicic acid is recovered from phosphoric acid plants, and then used primarily in water fluoridation, sometimes after being processed into sodium silicofluoride. In this application, the hexafluorosilicic acid decomposes to the fluoride ion (F−) – which is the active agent for the protection of teeth – and inert silicon dioxide (SiO2).
Hexafluorosilicic acid is also used as an electrolyte in the Betts electrolytic process for refining lead.
Hexafluorosilicic acid (identified as hydrofluorosilicic acid on the label) along with oxalic acid are the active ingredients used in Iron Out rust-removing cleaning products, which are essentially varieties of laundry sour.