THE KINETICS OF THE REACTION OF SILICA WITH GROUP I HYDROXIDES
A method is presented for preparing a reproducible silica glass or quartz surface that does not craze during rate of solution measurements in solutions of the five group I hydroxides. For silica glass, initial rates are a maximum at 8 M for at least NaOH and KOH and are an inverse function of ion size for the five cations and tetramethyl ammonium ion. A proposed mechanism of water addition followed by reaction with hydroxyl ion is used to explain the maximum rate and the effect of solution products and the substitution of methanol for water as a solvent. For quartz an explanation is offered for the lower rate and for the absence of a maximum rate below 27 M NaOH. A common temperature coefficient of 20 kcal mole−1 is reported for all reactions in water. The crazing of finely ground or polished silica glass surfaces is related to the presence of surface cracks and their enlargement by possible conversion of some silica to quartz in NaOH solution.