Aluminosilicate refers to materials containing

anion An ion () is an atom or molecule with a net electrical charge. The charge of an electron is considered to be negative by convention and this charge is equal and opposite to the charge of a proton, which is considered to be positive by conven ...

ic Si-O-Al linkages. Commonly, the associate cations are sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺) and protons (H⁺). Such materials occur as

mineral In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid substance with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. (2011): Mi ...

s, coal combustion products and as synthetic materials, often in the form of

zeolite Zeolites are a group of several microporous, crystalline aluminosilicate minerals commonly used as commercial adsorbents and catalysts. They mainly consist of silicon, aluminium, oxygen, and have the general formula ･y where is either a meta ...

s. Both synthetic and natural aluminosilicates are of technical significance as structural materials, catalysts, and

reagents In chemistry, a reagent ( ) or analytical reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or test if one occurs. The terms ''reactant'' and ''reagent'' are often used interchangeably, but reactant specifies a ...

Important representatives

Feldspar Feldspar ( ; sometimes spelled felspar) is a group of rock-forming aluminium tectosilicate minerals, also containing other cations such as sodium, calcium, potassium, or barium. The most common members of the feldspar group are the ''plagiocl ...

is a common

tectosilicate Silicate minerals are rock-forming minerals made up of silicate groups. They are the largest and most important class of minerals and make up approximately 90 percent of Earth's crust. In mineralogy, the crystalline forms of silica (silicon dio ...

aluminosilicate mineral made of potassium, sodium, and calcium cations surrounded by a negatively charged network of silicon, aluminium and oxygen atoms. Many aluminosilicates are synthesized by reactions of silicates, aluminates, and other compounds. They have the general formula where M⁺ is usually H⁺ and Na⁺. The Si/Al ratio is variable, which provides a means to tune the properties. Many of these materials are porous and exhibit properties of industrial value. Naturally occurring microporous, hydrous aluminosilicate minerals are also referred to as

References

Glass compositions Nesosilicates {{mineral-stub

Important representatives

See also

References