Silica
/ˈsɪlɪkə/noun
A hard, abundant mineral compound composed of silicon and oxygen, especially silicon dioxide.
Did you know?The scientific name silica was built from Latin silex, meaning “flint,” a stone prized for producing sparks and shaping tools long before modern chemistry existed.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European (proposed)
PIE
*sek-
“To cut; a proposed ancestor connected with words for cutting and sharp tools.”
Classical Latin
Latin
silex; silicis
“Flint or hard stone, especially stone capable of producing sparks.”
18th Century
Scientific Latin
silica
“A scientific name formed from the Latin stem silic-, referring to the substance associated with flint.”
1810s
Scientific English
silica
“Silicon dioxide, recognized as a distinct chemical substance in developing mineral chemistry.”
Modern English
English
silica
“Silicon dioxide found naturally in quartz, sand, glass, and many rocks.”