Talc or Talcum
Talc mineral or talcum powder is one of the most commonly found chemicals in our households. It is the primary constituent of the powder we apply on our faces to look fairer than usual. Scientifically speaking, talc is a clay mineral. We shall dwell more into the chemical composition aspect of talc in the latter part of this article. The mineral is used by several different products. It also acts as a thickening agent and therefore has a prominent presence in the paint industry. To improve the consistency of the paint, talc is often used. Talc or talcum is found in a crystalline structure in nature. Talc is a complex crystal composed of a mixture of non-metals in a specific ratio. Talc has wide utility and is hence given great importance. Due to the fact that talc is used in several places, it is also produced widely.
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Talc Chemical Formula
As we saw earlier, talc has various utilities. Aren't you excited to learn about the chemical properties and chemical formula of the mineral? Well, here we go! The talc formula is Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. From the above formula, we understand that purified talc has Mg i.e. magnesium, hence the crystal consists of 3 atoms of magnesium. Si represents silicon, therefore the crystal has 4 atoms of silicon. Whereas O is oxygen and talc has 10 units of oxygen. OH stands for the hydroxyl ion and there are 2 units of hydroxyl in silicon. Based on its chemical formula, talc is classified to be a silicate mineral.
Formation of Talc
Talc is found to exist as a prominent crystal in nature. It is a product of years of the metamorphosis of different magnesian minerals. Namely, serpentine, pyroxene, amphibole, olivine. The metamorphosis of the minerals mentioned above in presence of Carbon dioxide and water leads to the formation of talc in nature. The process mentioned above is also called "steatization" or "talc carbonation".
Talc can also be formed due to the hydration and carbonation reactions
Mg3Si2O5(OH)4 + 3 CO2 → Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 + 3 MgCO3 + 3 H2O
In the above reaction, a magnesium silicate, namely the mineral serpentine is used. Serpentine is carbonated to obtain talc. The byproducts of the following reaction are magnesium carbonate obtained in a precipitate state and water.
Talc can be obtained by another reaction. The reaction is as follows
3 CaMg(CO3)2 + 4 SiO2 + H2O → Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 + 3 CaCO3 + 3 CO2
In the reaction above the mineral composed of calcium is dolomite, SiO2 is an oxide of silicon. As byproducts, we obtain calcium carbonate as precipitate and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere.
Another reaction that leads to the production of talc is as follows
Chlorite + quartz = kyanite + talc + water
This reaction is another metamorphosis reaction. Although it's not very much used, the reaction is another option. It is not very feasible economically but can be used in absence of alternatives.
Some Important Physical Properties About Talc
The mineral, Talc as iterated earlier, is generally obtained in nature in a crystalline state. The color of the crystal is generally light green, white, grey, light brown. The crystal is always light-colored. The mineral is, more importantly, translucent and has a shiny pearly luster to it. The talk crystal is the softest mineral found in nature and has a hardness of just 1 on the Mohs Hardness scale. The physical structure of talc is comparable to mica and has a sheet structure. The sheet structure of the talc is held together by van der Waals forces and these bonds are pretty weak in nature. These sheets can even slide over one another. Talc is extremely soft, greasy to touch, and has a soapy feel to it. It is often called a high-temperature lubricant. Dense and highly pure talcum is often referred to as steatite. Talc is widely classified as low-grade metamorphism rocks. Soapstone is another variant of talc. Soapstone is the name given to compact masses of talc due to its soapy and greasy feel. The soapy texture of the soapstone contributes to the coinage of the name "the soapstone".
FAQs on Talc
1. Which Countries are the Leading Producers of Talc?
Ans: With technological advancements, the usage of talc has been decreasing over the years as cheaper and more feasible alternatives have been discovered. Talc is being replaced with corn starch powder, the ceramic industry has changed its production techniques which require little to no talc. Talc is a commonly found mineral and hence almost every country has its own reserves for talc. For instance, take the USA. The USA is self-sufficient when it comes to talc. They produce more talc than they consume! Mining for talc isn't a difficult task too. The leading producers and exporters of talc are the following countries: China, India, Brazil, the United States, South Korea, France, Japan, and Finland. However, numerous other countries do have their own small talc reserves.
2. How is Talcum Powder Made From Talc?
Ans: None of us are unknown to talcum powder. In fact, it is found in almost all households and is widely used in the summer season. Wondering how this talcum powder is made and what are its major constituents? As the name suggests, the primary constituent of talcum powder is powdered talc stone. It is mainly used since it has a high moisture absorption capacity. Hence, it helps in cooling down the body. Talc baby powder is made of powdered talc. Powdered talc is manufactured in the factories, mixed with some other chemical components, and then sold in the market.
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3. What are Some Uses of Talc?
Ans: As we have seen earlier talc is used in the production of talcum powder. Few soap stone powder uses are
Its application in the tissue paper industry
Ceramic industry
Paint industry
It is often used during the summers to cool the body down. Moreover, due to its heat-resistant property, it is also used in the plastic and rubber industry. Therefore, we can conclude that there are several talc uses.
