Identify $B$ in the following reaction $\mathrm{H}_4 \mathrm{SiO}_4 \underset{-\mathrm{H}_2…
Identify $B$ in the following reaction
$\mathrm{H}_4 \mathrm{SiO}_4 \underset{-\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}}{\stackrel{1000{ }^{\circ} \mathrm{C}}{\longrightarrow}} A \underset{\Delta}{\stackrel{\text { Carbon }}{\longrightarrow}} B+\mathrm{CO}$
corundum
quartz
silica
carborundum
Solution
Orthosilicic acid $\left(\mathrm{H}_4 \mathrm{SiO}_4\right)$, on heating at high temperature, loses two water molecules and gives silica $\left(\mathrm{SiO}_2\right)$ which on reduction with carbon gives carborundum $(\mathrm{SiC})$ and $\mathrm{CO}$.
$
\mathrm{H}_4 \mathrm{SiO}_4 \underset{-2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}}{\stackrel{1000^{\circ} \mathrm{C}}{\longrightarrow}} \mathrm{SiO}_2 \underset{\Delta}{\stackrel{\mathrm{C}}{\longrightarrow}} \underset{\text { carborundum }}{\mathrm{SiC}}+\mathrm{CO}
$