Talk:Silica gel

I got this when I buy computer hard disk. I always wondered what it was... :D

Gel?

In layman's terms, Silica Gel isn't a gel. Even by the definition on gel, it doesn't seem to be quite a gel. Xerogel says silica gel is a xerogel, although it's a small page with few edits. Colloid makes it sound like xerogel means "solid foam", which may be what silica gel is.

So what is it? Is silica gel a dehydrated gel like aerogel, or is it a regular gel where the solid component is just very hard? ―BenFrantzDale 03:45, 10 February 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Causes cancer?

minor grammatical problem but...under "properties" heading, second paragraph, it says "...cobalt (II) chloride, a chemical that is known to cause cancer and change color when moist." It causes cancer when it gets wet? reword to "...cobalt (II) chloride, a chemical that changes color when moist. It has also been shown to cause cancer." or something like that. random regular visitor, 19:26, 26 February 2006 (UTC)

Eating Silica Gel

What happens when you eat it? Because I sure looked up this page to see what would happen if you eat it. IMFromKathlene 01:45, 8 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I've always wondered too... Regardless, I have eaten some, and I'm still alive today, so I guess it's not extremely fatal. Hispanic! At the disco 21:26, 8 July 2006 (UTC)Silvernich[reply]

You really ate some??? crazey dude! lol...I think they should dye these dark blue- or red- my puppy found a packet in some wrapping---he tore open the packet- and we heard tiny balls rolling round our wooden floor- prob is you cant bloo*y see them!!! They are clear and so almost invisable- the makers have a responsibility to make these 'safe' in any situation- so DYE them for the love of dog!

The small pellets may crack when enough moisture is absorbed. If they crack in your stomach, it'll be like tiny pieces of broken glass in your guts. Not recommended ;) --85.156.246.23 17:27, 24 December 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I would say that the fact that they can shatter is a bit more dangerous than any "poison" they contain; it IS kind of like broken glass or sand, and if you chew on a piece and break it and have all the little bits and pieces irritate your mouth, you'll probably not try it again.... -129.21.96.59 08:52, 29 January 2007 (UTC)[reply]

DO NOT EAT

This warning is so strange, I mean, you don't get this warning on batteries, gun powder, ink cartriges, boxes of nails etc... Those are just the first things that came into my head. I mean I'm not so interested as to what would happen if you ate them, although this would be interesting, I always just presumed it would absorb the water in your stomach/wherever. What I want to know is why does silica gel have this warning in big upper case letters whereas far more dangerous things that you're just as unlikey to eat don't. --Aceizace 22:48, 25 September 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I'm guessing because to the untrained eye they may look just like sachets of sugar or salt. One person I know had a packet of Chinese food containing a sachet of silica gel without the written warning (just a vague diagram that might have looked like a warning not to eat it), and thought it was a dressing of some kind. And then wondered why the food tasted foul. Stannered 20:52, 12 November 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Production

How is it made? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 203.0.101.131 (talk) 03:23, 18 April 2007 (UTC).[reply]

Why even use the stuff?

If it's potentially toxic, why do I find this stuff hidden in just about ever consumer good? Wouldn't rice do the same job of absorbing moisture?