Question

What is the chemical formula of feldspar?

Answer 1

Chemical formula for any compound tells us the exact number of atoms present in that molecule in their respective quantities. Chemical formula consists of writing the cation before the anion. Feldspar is a type of mineral found in various types of volcanic rocks. It consists of alumina and silicate formula units as ions.

Complete answer:
Feldspar is a compound containing alumina and silica. It is a mineral found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. It consists of a three – dimensional network of the silicon attached with oxygen atoms, forming tectosilicate units.
Feldspars are a combination of three types of elements that have potassium, sodium, and calcium as their units called as K – spar, albite, and anorthite respectively. So, the formula of any feldspar will have these three ions individually along with its basic units of alumina $A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}$ and silica $Si{{O}_{4}}$.
Therefore, the chemical formula for any feldspar can be written as $KAlS{{i}_{3}}{{O}_{8}}$ called K – sper, or $NaAlSi{{O}_{3}}$ called albite, and $CaA{{l}_{2}}S{{i}_{2}}{{O}_{8}}$ called anorthite.
Hence, the chemical formula of feldspar is $KAlS{{i}_{3}}{{O}_{8}}$, $NaAlSi{{O}_{3}}$ and $CaA{{l}_{2}}S{{i}_{2}}{{O}_{8}}$.

Additional information:
The feldspar structure is a tetrahedral that has alumino silicates, which means that each tetrahedral consists of Aluminum and silicon atoms surrounded by four oxygen atoms. The reaction of feldspar with water produces clay minerals like smectite and kaolinite.

Note:
Feldspar is used extensively. It is used as a raw material in the production of glass, quartz, ceramic, plastic, rubber, etc. It is of great importance in the glass making industry as aluminum and silicon impart characteristics like, hardness, durability, resistivity to corrosion. This enhances the quality of the produced glass.