Naked Science Forum

General Science => General Science => Topic started by: neilep on 12/08/2007 18:33:12

Title: Silica Gel...makes ewe unwell ?
Post by: neilep on 12/08/2007 18:33:12

This is Silica Gel:

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hama.de%2Fbilder%2F00005%2Fabb%2F00005900abb.jpg&hash=59d6986728cb5251e816e067fae7a564)

Nice isn't it ?..notice how well packaged and non edible it is ?

But what would it do to me if I did eat it ?...would I shrivel up ?...or would it make me rather quite unwell ?

I just don't know...do ewe ?

Title: Silica Gel...makes ewe unwell ?
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 12/08/2007 18:38:19

This topic rhymes! (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fclapping%2F2.gif&hash=f3ac90d0f104dd89dbe260c598e013a8)

Title: Silica Gel...makes ewe unwell ?
Post by: neilep on 12/08/2007 18:45:08

ewe noticed !! *sheepy does Royal wave* (https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fwaving%2F2.gif&hash=16393bb1e4d71b3b46a4e73969dee0ff)

Title: Silica Gel...makes ewe unwell ?
Post by: Karen W. on 12/08/2007 19:16:35

This is from Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silica_gel

Hazards

Alone, silica gel is non-toxic, non-flammable and chemically unreactive. However, some of the beads may be doped with a moisture indicator, such as cobalt (II) chloride, which is toxic and may be carcinogenic. Cobalt (II) chloride is deep blue when dry (anhydrous) and pink when moist (hydrated). This is one reason most silica gel packets are labeled as dangerous or poisonous when eaten.

Crystalline silica dust can cause silicosis but synthetic amorphous silica, which is what silica gel is, does not cause silicosis .[citation needed] A chemically similar substance with far greater porosity is aerogel.

Title: Silica Gel...makes ewe unwell ?
Post by: eric l on 13/08/2007 07:59:09

I don't know if the cobalt(II)chloride moisture indicator is used in those litlle bags - one simply does not see the blue or pink through the bag anyway.
But silicagel in the humid environment of your mouth or your stomach (if you swallow it bag and all) would give lumps that could disturb your digestion.