catchem

We all know that silicon dioxide is in giant covalent structure' date=' and atoms are joined together by strong covalent bonds. While we silicon dioxide dissolves in concentrated sodium hydroxide,SiO2 + 2OH- --> SiO32- + H2O I would like to know the processes involved in detail and how can this be done in molecular level.

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In the first stage, an adsorbed hydroxy group attacks a surface silicon atom, increasing its electronic density and weakening the Si-O bonds,which are further hydrolyzed with the formation of silanol groups and adsorbed hydroxyl ions.

 

A.G. Okunev et al., Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids 260 (1999) 21

 

Hope this illustration helps. It's always nice to see the curved arrows for a given reaction.

 

/Johannes

Hi

"What other methods can be used to measure the gases emitted by engines using this fuel or any fuel for that matter?"

For real time measurements, a mass spectrometer would be able to supply you with exact date of all the possible emission products (it measures the numbers of protons).

But it probably only appliciable in a stationary set-up.

/Johannes