Fully-porous Silica based Columns

Silica gel is an amorphous silicic acid polymer represented as SiO2-nH2O. On the surface of silica gel are found silanol groups (Si-OH), of which there are three known types: isolated, vicinal (hydrogen bonded with a neighboring silanol group), and geminal. Silanol groups generally exhibit weak acidity, though it can vary in strength depending on the individual state of the group.