Make Sodium Silicate (AKA "Water Glass") from Cat Litter and Drain Opener

In this video we use cat litter and drain opener to make sodium silicate. This will be a valuable precursor to other silicon based chemicals in the future.
Most cat litter is made from clay but "crystal" cat litter or "silica" cat litter is made from silica gel. Silica gel is amorphous silicon dioxide made by aqueous chemistry is very easy to convert into other silicon compounds.
The process is quite straightforward: 60g of silica gel based cat litter is mixed with 100mL of water. Then 80g of sodium hydroxide is slowly added to dissolve the silica gel. What's produced is a solution of sodium silicate.
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[@NurdRage]

Just a fixed version of a video i released in may. There is nothing new here if you've already seen it.

[@Teth47]

Did you pick an option to not notify people this video was uploaded? It's not in my sub feed, and so far I've been immune to all this youtube weirdness...

[@NurdRage]

yes, since this video had just minor fixes, i felt it would be spammy to notify of something already seen.

[@matttuck5010]

That explains it! I had it saved when it disappeared. But uh, so if I do a run with just the blue ones, will the end product look different?

[@zodiacmx]

VIdeo of dmt?

[@YoungBoredom]

Why do you keep unlisting and relisting? I made a java based .exe to check if my favorite youtubers have uploaded and you keep giving it false positives lol

[@THErcbomber]

This was in my recommended videos on the home page but not in my sub box. almost skipped over it until i saw uploaded 5hrs ago

[@schautamatic]

I’ve made several gallons like this, so...yeah, it DOES work!

[@proud2deviate]

Thanks for including the proper ratios for a refractory mix. 'Bout drove myself nuts trying to find a reliable reference, a while back.

[@magnuswootton6181]

what does refractory mean, it doesnt mean flexable does it?

[@Teklectic]

@@magnuswootton6181 refractory in this sense means a heat resistant material. Sodium silicate is commonly used in foundry work for making molds, cores and can even be used to make entire foundries and forges.

[@magnuswootton6181]

very nice... i run away from these videos cause they tell big time secrets, run for it little mag!! i may take a look later, best keep this in bookmark!

[@jamesmorriss9565]

I had seen several "how to" on this but now I feel better having seen your video. You know "a real professional chemist" type guy.

[@robinrobinrobinledford2104]

Lol

[@butsukete1806]

Thanks for adding the comments about refractory usage.

[@cypriantroyer1577]

Made up a batch with Fresh Step brand crystals cat litter. It must have some cobalt salts in it, because the finished product had a solid pink tint. Worked very well for bonding sand for a core for sand casting aluminum. I baked my core at 350 F for an hour instead of using CO2. Worked great, Thanks.

[@KyBr2000]

'Warning: Gloves are corrosive, wear NaOH when handling them."

[@atlasmusik66]

@Soumalya Pramanik me too! :D

[@shigatsuningen]

Hysterical :D

[@crazyDIYguy]

😄😄😄😄

[@user-pr6ed3ri2k]

wait i thought it actually said that lol

[@SbF6H]

In an alternate universe.

[@Unmannedair]

I did this. Thanks NR for the idea. I'm making custom firebrick.

[@NTF-zb9wi]

How well did that prevent cracking? Did you just paint it onto regular bricks; or, did you make the bricks, as well? If the later, did you add this into the mix; or, put it on after they cured?

[@daphneraven6745]

How did it turn out? And how well did it perform?

[@stephenjacks8196]

FYI there was a cool article on reacting waterglass with vinegar to make colloidal silica gel which when layered and dried gives synthetic fire opal.

[@magnuswootton6181]

cool.

[@chasbader]

That is exactly what I'm looking for. Do you happen to have the URL?

[@stephenjacks8196]

@@chasbader I played with the article on doing this, then gave it to my engineer friend from Burma. The colors come from crystal size and it takes time for the layers to get cohesive (I was impatient). Saw at least 2 YT videos on this while searching for other stuff.

[@prakashparajuli3003]

Thank you for clear explanation

[@mordoc333]

Can you make adhesive-related series? Maybe make your own super-glue?

[@mytech6779]

Maybe include esterfication of rosin, as rosin esters are common ingredients in many adhesives and coatings.

[@magnuswootton6181]

everything crystalizes with itself, so in a way everything is actually glue, glue is just a liquid turning into a solid. and when solids go into solution they are now essentially liquids, and everything goes into solution with something. most of the time. WATER! =)

[@mursupaani3670]

Had me on when you said "you can use previously used cat litter"

[@leviathansnemesis3742]

Hi, I did this a year ago but made the mistake of heating in a aluminium pan, still worked but had a black tinge throughout. The sodium Hydroxide reacts with aluminium, my bad.

[@alexa.davronov1537]

Thanks for sharing. Pretty interesting.

[@garypreece7299]

What can be used as a carrier solvent to apply thin layers to paint work and also can this mix be blended in to carnuba and bees wax

[@jacobbudovsky]

Definitely use this for refractory cement

[@screamingwilson]

When using it as an adhesive, once all the water has been driven off and it becomes solid, is it soluble in water?

[@watchyMCFCwatchy]

That's agreat video. Please advise what form of water glass I would need for finishing wooden furniature with horizontal, curved and vertical sides.

[@bbeck104]

I would love to suspend large bismuth crystals in a solution of sodium silicate, with the refractory compression be better for my desired application or would your more Sodium Hydroxide composition be better suited to the task?

[@GodlikeIridium]

Cat litter: Better drying agent than stuff sold as drying agent^^ Chemical companies: Probably reselling cat litter as high quality drying agent xD

[@tyson5056]

Can you use diatomaceous earth instead of the cat litter, since it is super fine powder and composed of 80-90% amorphous silica? Also does making water glass by either method create harmful fumes and off gas?

[@RedDogForge]

sodium silica is excellent for a binder when making high temperature refractory cement and forge linings

[@pierrec.dussault2138]

From what I've read, it seems metasilicate is the better stoichiometric variant for high temperature cements. Is this correct?

[@emozbunny]

@NurdRage I have a Question for you? Can i recycle spent Amine grafted silica gel to Sodium Silicate with this method?

[@waighalanorah-jt1ut]

Wonderful video ! I've been longing for such skills God bless you abundantly.from Waighala Norah

[@AS-ug2vq]

Any reason for not using soda lime crushed glass for making sodium silicate?

[@lm386opamp]

Can this be stored long term? I want to make a period correct glue to store in a bottle.

[@generalingwer4341]

Thanks ur a wealth of info,even for a starting chemist.so if the blue didnt change to pink quickly,does that mean the cat litter is a poorer dessicant?

[@thewar200]

Nice video. I dont know why but mine is not working, all the water dries up and silica just stays there almost as a block. Pushing a little with a knife breaks it all in small parts as it was. Any help please ?

[@aga5897]

Nice ! Excellent demo. Core sand springs to mind ;)

[@htomerif]

So.. if you dehydrate it with sulfuric acid, what happens?

[@3niknicholson]

Thanks. Exactly what I needed to know, well presented, no techno music, no "I'll go ahead and..."

[@danc8278]

Could silica gel be used to make fused silica glass?

[@stephenjacks8196]

Rem sulfuric acid dissolves Vermiculite (more like protonates the silicate sheets) to a gel. (Not all dissolves residue asbestos etc). Then react with waterglass?

[@karimrazak3798]

Is this the powder that is used to melt metals

[@wanderlustspirit4607]

Yasss! I forgot about this channel! So glad I found it. I subscribe this time haha

[@justinclark5725]

ok so is this food safe? like I'd like to use it to submerge eggs in to isolate oxygen from the egg for long term room temp storage

[@sarcasmo57]

Are you a giant?

[@thatpersonyouknow3747]

What makes you say that?!?

[@isawadelapradera6490]

BasicallyPlays My guess is his brain

[@LuficariusRatspeed]

Is is a wizard.. a WIZARD GIANT... *thundercracks*

[@robinrobinrobinledford2104]

Ty you made me laugh

[@carpenterfamily6198]

Sounds like the giant from the movie ‘ Big Fish ‘

[@ivanbombana9481]

Did you make one of the reaction at minute 4:05?

[@shadowtheimpure]

Best way to dry Sodium Silicate is to use a vacuum desiccator. It will force out the moisture without having to apply heat and you can use a disposable foil pan to hold the silicate to make cleanup easier.

[@lightclub9622]

can you use this to make silica water?

[@gigglysamentz2021]

Use room tone ?

[@mysticdavestarotmachinesho5093]

Hummmm? What catalyst or catalysts are you planing to use the water glass lite with?

[@THOMASTHESAILOR]

Totally cool, so, where does the term "Water glass" come form..? Is it cuz of similar ingredients.? It sure don't look like glass, but, it does look like water..

[@lancerudy9934]

How do you mix vermiculite?

[@karlharvymarx2650]

Quick first hand experience report on how not to do this: 1. Use previously used (but well washed) cat litter. Possible source of some of the product's ugly brown color. 2. Prepare in a soup can. The can liner soughed off and maybe partially dissolved, possibly contributing to ugly color, and later on the burnt circuit board aroma. 3. Stir with a twig. Partially dissolved brownish too. 4. Mixed lye and water first in a cold water bath. Had to do this outdoors where I forgot the exact procedure and winged it. The water bath was because I feared losing water and lye if it boiled over. The lye did dissolve completely. However it seems the low temperature didn't allow the reaction with the silica to kick off fast enough for significant self-heating. I didn't get the stoichiometric mix I was after since some of the litter turned into a sort of chalky looking lump with the consistency of chewing gum. I was able to partially save it by using a propane torch to bring it all to a boil. However that also burnt some of the can liner and added the burnt circuit board smell. Oddly, I don't think it was much of a problem that my cat had anointed the crystals. I had washed them for several days in several changes of clean water, sun dried and then vacuum dried and then an hour under UVC light and 03. They were completely odorless but probably a bit damp from over a year of storage in an open container. Open to suggestions about what might remove the ugly brown color and other contaminants from this batch.

[@porkchopspapi5757]

What is it used for?

[@e.h.lipton73]

Excellent job young man. It does take patience though, a rare commodity

[@johnrisher3007]

Liquid glass i saw used for core for sand castings. It binds the sand and burns off during poor

[@ahmedhgfdmn314]

How to make solid powder of sodium silicate?

[@i.p.p.5594]

im brazil cat litter they are made of calcium aluminate silicate ....Works?????

[@Justsomeoneyoucouldhaveknown]

Is there a way to collect and refine the colbolt? Would you be willing to do a video on colbolt? The blue it makes is rather intresting and id love to know how to prepare a sample (safe as possible) for my collection of element's

[@s.sradon9782]

There's not enough in cat litter, extract it from something else.

[@JustinCglass]

More silica, expansion and contraction when heated more better for refractory

[@Kevinakevinakevina]

anyone know the concentration of this?

[@icebluscorpion]

is the silica rich version water-soluble, because I would need a non-soluble one, could I mix in inorganic pigments like Aluminum oxide or copper oxide in it?

[@magnuswootton6181]

maybe, because its got drain cleaner in it, and the ph has risen the aluminium oxide will go into solution (mauybe 3->4% more) but the problem is the sodium ions are there, and it will contaminate the rock you get out of it.

[@leviathansnemesis3742]

I didn't follow the ratio and mine solidified into a whitish mass like soap.

[@wombatillo]

How about making lithium and potassium silicates?

[@neshobanakni]

Was that on a hot plate?

[@patri0t1776]

You're video had been the best figur the explanation of the molarity and ratios per usage. I'm wondering if you know what the molarity is for 30/60/100 mixture? Does it depend on the starting ingredients? And how does one thin it? Just by adding water or is heat necessary?

[@EdwardTriesToScience]

Water seems to work to thin it

[@MsDomeHome]

I am using this to waterproof an earthen plaster. I noticed that some people have a whitish coloring after application. Do you think I could add some colored pigment (powdered for cement) to this after it has been processed?

[@magnuswootton6181]

yeh i bet u can, as long as it doesnt react and just sits there with the rest of it as a mix.

[@nunyabisnass1141]

The cat litter gel probably has a higher surface area allowing it to react faster.

[@samir9494]

dear Mr: how to make potassium silicate ?

[@jtbmetaldesigns]

Finally, someone gets the sodium silicate thing right. I can’t tell you how tired I am of people calling water glass sodium silicate sodium metasilicate! They are NOT the same! The metasilicate is too alkaline and does not have enough silica to seal eggs or density concrete because you need MORE silica in your formulation for that. Metasilicate is a heavy duty cleanser and corrosion inhibitor.

[@dw4729]

ur other videos are amazing they really help with my science class

[@sofronismistakidis4264]

What is the highest ratio of SiO2 possible? Is Na2Si4O9 a valid compound? Also, what is the reaction with CO2 when sodium silicate is used in sand cores? How fast is that reaction, and can it be slowed down?

[@magnuswootton6181]

you can slow any reaction down cant ya? just do it more gradually over time.

[@mister_stark]

Hello, many thanks! Great video, i have a question, can i apply this to a car exterior?

[@petergold4823]

I know the video is a bit old, but just tried this with ratios 100ml water 60g silica and 35g sodium hydroxide. I could not get the silica to dissolve completely how long should it take? and should I add more sodium hydroxide if it won't dissolve all the way. I'm looking for a water glass mix

[@petergold4823]

tried crushing the silica first and it mixed then about 2 minutes later it reformed back into a solid lump, what i liquid I did get set hard but was not water proof and just washed away, any tips? I have ordered some store bought product anyway

[@bttrs]

This was not in my sub feed, nor did I get a notification. Found this on recommended.

[@nickdubiel2058]

Hello Dr. N. Butyl Lithium, I think that this solution could be very useful to coat thermocouples in a high temperature electrically insulating coating but SiO2 has a very poor thermal conductivity rating(1.4 W/mK). Would it be possible to create a similar solution with MgO instead which would have a much greater thermal conductivity(50 W/mK)? Thank you for your time and for an excellent video.

[@Tedlasman]

What would the compound be called then?

[@ugonotti9324]

Sorry for my bad English. Does anyone have tried to do the polymerization of Sodium Silicate using Ethanol (aka "super ball experiment")?, I'm really interested in it but I couldn't find a way to make the experiment work using a sodium silicate solutions prepared following this video. If anyone have suggestion please tell me, thanks in advance.

[@cirillorossi1717]

I'm interested too!!!

[@millepullich106]

Don't you have 2 moles of NaOH in the mixture and not 1 mole like u said at 5:15? If you add 80g NaOH and the molar mass is 40 g/mol for NaOH, then you end up with 2 moles.

[@mdataburrahaman7855]

Wholesale kaha milega

[@AmalgmousProxy]

Would the second formula solidify with co2 after mixed with sand?

[@paulcoombe8742]

Yes

[@AS-ug2vq]

Can you please make colloidal silica or silica sol.

[@Ciocalesku613]

So I did this using fresh step cat litter, some tap water (impurities I'm sure) and let drain cleaner. Started turning purple after adding NaOH and ended up a reddish pink color, super viscous even while hot and barely filters thru coffee filter. Any suggestions from you or about viewers?

[@magnuswootton6181]

thats happened to me before! if u have copper sulphate solution if u add drain cleaner went purple for me too! quick scary.

[@williamcarson1038]

bruh.. is nurdrage nilered?

[@oldbritishmovies4794]

NurdRage, Hi, hope you can advise, I have made several batches of Water Glass using the correct measurements and ingredients, the problem I'm having is the finished product does not harden properly by air drying, it takes ages to solidify but remains tacky to the touch. Also is there a catalyst you can add as a hardener to speed the curing process. Thanks :)

[@paulcoombe8742]

Check out foundry products for hardener

[@randallmarsh446]

Use a propane torch to harden the adhesive mix. heat and C02 are the main ingredients needed to finish curing. If heat is not an option then c02 is the only other option you would probably have to finish drying the glue mix.

[@mrgreenswelding2853]

Is hat the same thing as the sodium silicate that is used with sand and carbon dioxide in mould making?

[@paulcoombe8742]

Yes it is use in foundrys

[@w-4258]

I recently discovered the clay based cat litter is generally made of zeolite specifically. It should be possible to produce molecular sieves from it.

[@C4pungMaster]

The pores are usually not suitable for chemical uses though. Molecular sieves are engineered to have specific pore sizes to adsorb and trap molecules of certain sizes. While cat litter uses natural clay and even though it is generally used to adsorb urine, the water adsorption is really not specific. Its also used to adsorb odors so the the pores are most likely to be quite large to be able to trap larger volatile compounds that smell in urine Though having said all of that, there might be certain processes that can be done to selectively collapse the zeolite framework to provide smaller pores. Even though it might need elevated temperature like in a kiln or high pressures like in an autoclave. Im interested in using it as a makeshift column chromatography solid phase

[@AlChemicalLife]

Do you think aerogel would work ? I have a little I would be willing to try out ..

[@Unmannedair]

AlChemicalLife aerogel would definitely work, but why would you waste something that is so hard to make?

[@AlChemicalLife]

i have no other use for it

[@captainfrisbee8075]

How did you isolate the NaOH from the drain opener? Electrolysis? Ethanol evaporate?

[@lawabidingcitizen5153]

Some drain openers only contain NaOH, so maybe he just used that

[@catmandont100]

You have a great channel.

[@robinthrill3r7]

Yo Rage I need ya help buddy! Please lemme know if you can do a request video! Post one on the Fluoridation process of CH3CL2OP. (Methylphosponly dichloride)

[@neilhay2155]

Thanks for showing how to make the liquid glass. I am intending to use it in a small DIY furness at home. I'm only looking at enough heat to melt aluminium at the most, more for lead. Thanks again, very helpful.

[@inbedduringcovid3005]

Lead bullets?

[@neilhay2155]

@@inbedduringcovid3005 Diving weights, and maybe aluminium moulds for custom sized weights. If the demand is there.

[@k192447]

nossa demais este video,grato pelo seu tempo e dedicação.

[@TEKKKNO]

Can we use pure natural silica sand instead silica gel to produce sodium silicate(water glass) Where i live we have a place where silica sand pure and looke like glass

[@TEKKKNO]

I got it after watching the whole video so silica sand can be used but it needs hight temperature to dissolve

[@TrojanHorse1959]

Hmm, I wonder if it could be thinned and used to seal wood outdoors?

[@randallmarsh446]

i thin it out and use it as a flame inhibotor and retardent on my house. ive tested several different mixes and the best one seems to me is using the 30-60 mix 60g being silica gel 30 being sodium hydroxide i dilute 4- ratio. 4 parts distilled water to 1 part waterglass. for every quart made i mix in 2 tablespoons of baking soda and warm the mix up to about 100 degrees f. to dissolve the baking soda . after it returns to about 70 i keep mixing it. then i use a spray bottle to apply to the surfaces i want to treat. If you want a fast dry then skim it with a propane torch. if your in a place where you cant use the torch get a bottle of Co2 and gas the areas you are working on. the co2 will speed up the drying faster than a blowdryer or even a heat gun. a combination of both heat and Co2 is way lot faster and you will obtain better results.

[@revscott58]

@@randallmarsh446 Howdy Randall. What does the baking soda do? Will your solution keep in a sealed container? Blessings.

[@user-ri7ym2ot9k]

كيف ذالك

[@mairakaleem1484]

(Na2O : 7.5 - 8.5 %, SiO2 : 25.5 - 28.5 %) can anyone help me make this ratio

[@serkanozkani]

So this is the secret of Solid State battery as an solid electrolyte?

[@leopard106]

How can we make (cat litter) silica gel?

[@recon_gamingyt1421]

Its cat litter mate, its like $7...

[@Addybhoot93]

Why do the beaker glass didn't dissolve?

[@orcoastgreenman]

Low surface area/porosity to attack.

[@azafreak]

YAY CHEMICAL GARDEN Y A Y

[@BylliPierce]

Would you be able to make elemental silicon out of this cat littler using the tertiary alcohol/magnesium method?

[@EvelynH-tj1qt]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't silicon dioxide sand?

[@markovichglass]

Sand contains silicon dioxide, but not all sand is silicon dioxide

[@rahrul]

Can we use this as a paint protection on car

[@markovichglass]

No

[@hili467]

Could this also be accomplished with Calcium Hydroxide?

[@magnuswootton6181]

it might, but the reaction will be alot slower and u probably have to keep it on the heat for a couple of days to get the same effect as sodium for 3 hours. just a guess. (its 1ppt soluable in water, about as much as gypsum.)

[@samir9494]

Dear NurdRage, how to make potassium silicate, concentration 28% to 35%