Question:

Silicon carbide, SiC, is one of the hardest materials known.

Last updated: 8/3/2022

Silicon carbide, SiC, is one of the hardest materials known.

Silicon carbide, SiC, is one of the hardest materials known. Surpassed in hardness only by diamond, it is sometimes known commercially as carborundum. Silicon carbide is used primarily as an abrasive for sandpaper and is manufactured by heating common sand (sillcon dioxide, SiO₂) with carbon in a furnace. SiO₂ (s) + C(s) → CO(g) + SiC(s) What mass of silicon carbide should result when 3.4 kg of pure sand is heated with an excess of carbon?