Category:Silicate

Sil"i*cate, n.Etym: [cf. F. silicate.] (chem.)

Defn: a salt of silicic acid.

Note: in mineralogical chemistry the silicates include; the Unisilicates or orthosilicates, salts of orthosilicic acid; the Bisilicates or metasilicates, salts of metasilicic acid; the Polysilicates or acid silicates, salts of the polysilicic acids; the Basic silicates or subsilicates, in which the equivalent of base is Greater than would be required to neutralize the acid; and the Hydrous silicates, including the zeolites and many hydrated Decomposition products.