a highly adsorbent gelatinous form of silica, used chiefly as a dehumidifying and dehydrating agent.
Origin
1915-20
Examples from the web for silica gel
silica gel is a desiccant, and the purpose of a desiccant is to absorb or adsorb gaseous water vapor.
Subsequently all samples are purified by silica gel column chromatography and alumina column chromatography.
The methanol is collected in deionized distilled water and adsorbed on silica gel.
British Dictionary definitions for silica gel
silica gel
noun
1.
an amorphous form of silica capable of absorbing large quantities of water: used in drying gases and oils, as a carrier for catalysts and an anticaking agent for cosmetics
Encyclopedia Article for silica gel
a highly porous, noncrystalline form of silica used to remove moisture from gases and liquids, to thicken liquids, to impart a dull surface to paints and synthetic films, and for other purposes.
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