Quartz for Utter Dummies

Silica gel pack

We can't be sure, but we imagine that the average "contributor" to eHow.com – that's what they called their gaggle of freelancers – started out writing about what he or she knew. Unfortunately, at least some decided that they'd make more money by branching into fields in which they had less knowledge. You can usually tell when one of them is bullshitting... That may be what happened when "popular culture, music, and film" writer Mark Orwell attempted to channel his inner scientist for the Sciencing.com post, "What Is Silicon Dioxide?"

This isn't Orwell's first trip to the AN podium; a few weeks ago we busted him for scientific ignorance in a post about slate. Not only is his piece on SiO₂ equally inane, he even repeated some of his bogosity. We'll get to that later...

Mark opened by telling everyone that,

"Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is the most abundant mineral in the Earth's crust, and it is found on every continent in forms ranging from fine powders to giant rock crystals."

Very little of that is actually true... for one, the most abundant mineral in the crust is the feldspar family (we wonder why he doesn't call the stuff quartz, FWIW). For another, we're not really sure where you can find naturally occurring silica powder, And finally, if it's a giant crystal of silica, it ain't a rock; it's a mineral. Otherwise, Orwell was spot on!

Most of the rest of the post is a mishmash of misinformation and rewording of half-understood reference material. Take this claim:

"Although sand and quartz crystals may appear different, they are both made primarily of silicon dioxide. The chemical makeup of these types is exactly the same, and the properties are generally the same, but they were formed under different conditions."

Ignoring for the nonce that sand isn't necessarily quartz, of course they have the same properties: they're the same damned mineral! And this crap about "different conditions"? That's a pretty startling claim, one upon which Orwell declined to expand. The truth? Quartz sand is just physically weathered crystalline quartz. We also found this factoid  amusing:

"Silicon dioxide is used... to make glass, which is superheated and pressurized silicon dioxide."

What's funny about that is that Orwell also used the words "superheated and pressurized" to describe the metamorphic processes that create slate. We don't know that we'd call 3000°C "superheated," and the glass-making process involves little or no pressurization. Hence, bogosity!
And then there are these fine faux pas:

• "Silicon dioxide... is also manufactured for use in toothpaste... it helps to scrub away plaque on teeth." – If by "manufactured," Mark means "hydrated," then yes (sort of).
• "It is also... used as a pesticide." – That's the gel form, which is a desiccant... and is not the same thing as "sand."
• "Silica gel is a food additive and desiccant that helps absorb water." – No, you jackass, it isn't a "food additive." Oh, and what else would you use a desiccant for???

We rest our case: once again, Orwell had no idea what he was talking about; once again, Mark is our Dumbass of the Day. Any questions?

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