Is it possible to ''dissolve'' quartz?

[mondeluz]

Greetings!

I have these cool looking volcanic minerals that contained quartz (SiO2). And I was wondering... Is It possible to ''dissolve'' SiO2 with a type of acid or something similar?

[swansont]

Yes.

"All forms of silica dissolve in molten natron (Na₂CO₃) or potash (K₂CO₃) to form silicates"

http://www.quartzpage.de/gen_chem.html

[John Cuthber]

Greetings!

I have these cool looking volcanic minerals that contained quartz (SiO2). And I was wondering... Is It possible to ''dissolve'' SiO2 with a type of acid or something similar?

Water will do.

It needs to be hot and under pressure.

But that's the way they grow quartz crystals for watches and such.

[MigL]

If its an acid you're looking for, hydrofluoric acid will etch glass or quartz.

Be careful with that ( google the hazards, its nasty stuff )

[foxy john]

Hydrofluoric acid will dissolve quartz, ( and glass - I used to work in a lab with windows etched by HF ). You do not want to play with HF.

[Strange]

Hydrofluoric acid will dissolve quartz, ( and glass - I used to work in a lab with windows etched by HF ). You do not want to play with HF.

 

 

It may dissolve the rest of the rock as well!

(I am assuming, perhaps wrongly, that the OP wanted to remove the quartz inclusions from the volcanic rock....)