Word Study
Silica
CIDE DICTIONARY
Silica, n. [NL., from L. silex, silics, a flint.].
Silicon dioxide, SiO/. It constitutes ordinary quartz (also opal and tridymite), and is artifically prepared as a very fine, white, tasteless, inodorous powder. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
Silica, n. silicon dioxide, occurring as quartz etc. and as a principal constituent of sandstone and other rocks.
Idiom
silica gel hydrated silica in a hard granular form used as a desiccant.
Derivative
siliceous adj. (also silicious). silicic adj. silicify v.tr. & intr. (-ies, -ied). silicification n.
Etymology
L silex -icis flint, after alumina etc.
For further exploring for "Silica" in Webster Dictionary Online