Question

What is the chemical formula of zeolite?

Answer 1

The chemical formula of any compound is the representation of all the atoms of that molecule in their respective quantities. Zeolites are aluminosilicate compounds. These compounds are used as catalysts due to the micro porous nature of zeolites. The elements in zeolites are aluminum, silicon and oxygen.

Complete answer:
A catalyst is a substance that helps in carrying out the reaction without taking part in it. Zeolites are a type of shape selective catalysts. They are shape selective as the porous structure of zeolites has tiny pores that only allow small size particles to pass through. Zeolites are alumino – silicates that have a honeycomb structure that has a 3 – D network of the silicon atoms, which consist of aluminum at some places.
The structure of the zeolite can accommodate various cations like,$N{{a}^{+}},{{K}^{+}},M{{g}^{2+}},C{{a}^{2+}}$, so, the formula of a mineral zeolite becomes, $N{{a}_{2}}A{{l}_{2}}S{{i}_{2}}{{O}_{8}}\cdot x{{H}_{2}}O$. The positive ions are held loosely and can be exchanged in various reactions. The ionic units that make up a zeolite are $Si{{O}_{4}}^{4-}$and$Al{{O}_{4}}^{5-}$ therefore they are alumino silicates.
Hence, the chemical formula for zeolite is $N{{a}_{2}}A{{l}_{2}}S{{i}_{2}}{{O}_{8}}\cdot x{{H}_{2}}O$.

Note:
Examples of zeolite are erionite $N{{a}_{2}}{{K}_{2}}CaMg{{(Al{{O}_{2}})}_{2}}{{(Si{{O}_{2}})}_{2}}\cdot 6{{H}_{2}}O$ and gemelinite $N{{a}_{2}}Ca{{(Al{{O}_{2}})}_{2}}{{(Si{{O}_{2}})}_{4}}\cdot 6{{H}_{2}}O$. Basically zeolites are used in cracking of hydrocarbons. ZSM – 5 is a zeolite used in petroleum industry, also they are used to convert alcohol into gasoline. The other name of zeolites is molecular sieve as they act as a sieve for the bigger particles due to shape selective catalysis.