In the majority of silicon dioxides, the silicon atom shows tetrahedral coordination, with four oxygen atoms surrounding a central … See more

Structural use
About 95% of the commercial use of silicon dioxide (sand) is in the construction industry, e.g. in the production of concrete ( See more

Silicon dioxide is a relatively inert material (hence its widespread occurrence as a mineral). Silica is often used as inert containers for … See more

Inhaling finely divided crystalline silica can lead to severe inflammation of the lung tissue, silicosis, bronchitis, lung cancer, and See more

Geology
SiO2 is most commonly encountered in nature as quartz, which comprises more than 10% by mass of … See more

Silicon dioxide is mostly obtained by mining, including sand mining and purification of quartz. Quartz is suitable for many purposes, while chemical processing is required … See more

Silica ingested orally is essentially nontoxic, with an LD50 of 5000 mg/kg (5 g/kg). A 2008 study following subjects for 15 years found that higher levels of silica in water appeared to decrease the risk of dementia. An increase of 10 mg/day of silica in drinking … See more