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Silicon dioxide is a chemical compound made of silicon and oxygen atoms bonded together, commonly found in sand, quartz, and glass. It matters because it's one of the most abundant materials on Earth and is used in many everyday products, from construction materials to electronics.
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Silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO2, and is commonly found in nature as quartz. In many parts of the world, silica is the major constituent of sand. Silica is one of the most complex and abundant families of materials, existing as a compound of several minerals and as a synthetic product. Examples include fused quartz, fumed silica, opal, and aerogels. It is used in structural materials, microelectronics, and as components in the food and pharmaceutical industries. All forms are white or colorless, although impure samples can be colored or opaque.
Silicon dioxide is a common fundamental constituent of glass.