Separating Zinc Chloride from Silicon Dioxide: A Simple Guide

Zinc chloride is a chemical compound known for its hydration properties. It is used in textile processing, chemical synthesis and metallurgical fluxes. Zinc chloride is white or colorless and is water soluble. SiO2 is the elemental abbreviation for silicon dioxide. Silicon dioxide, which is basically sand, is a very hard material used in electronics manufacturing. Separating zinc chloride from silicon dioxide is surprisingly easy.

Things You'll Need

• Saucepan
• Whisk or spoon
• Paper towels

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Instructions

• 1

  Put about a half cup of the zinc chloride and silicon dioxide compound into a saucepan.

• 2

  Add some water, and stir until the compound is mixed well with the water. The water should just cover the solution of zinc chloride and silicon dioxide.

• 3

  Strain the compound through several paper towels. The substance in the water is the zinc chloride, and the substance on the paper towels is the silicon dioxide.