ClimateJune 30, 2026

silicate

/ˈsɪlɪkeɪt/

Definition

A mineral or chemical compound containing silicon and oxygen, often used in agriculture or industrial processes to improve soil quality or capture carbon.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'silex' (flint or hard stone), the term was coined in chemistry to describe salts or esters derived from silicic acid.

In the news

In this article, the author mentions crushed silicate as an example of a carbon removal technique that, when applied to farm soils, helps retain water and increase crop yields while sequestering carbon.

Why states are walking back their own climate and energy laws, and what they might do instead

Read the full article ↗

The Conversation

Related words

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.