is silica the same with silicon?

so, as title says it, is silicon the same with silica?
i mean, i read amazing things silica can do to my plants. is silicon going to do the same specific things (better resistance to different kinds of stress, thickening stems, bushier plants etc. etc.)?
at my growstore the difference between silicon and silica is really big, silicon is much cheaper. So, if I would go with silicon, would it be the same? or that difference in price means difference in benefits?

thanks!!

peace

I done a side by side with a silica nutrient and the test that had silica v the ones that had not and the ones with silica were visibly stronger , more robust , more healthier overall and the reason I use this product is that it is not from potassium silicate with very high pH but its pH neutral as it is bio derived.

thanks, man! do you know if silicon is the same?
what i found researching is that silicon is a ....whatever, it was a few hours ago ))) and silica is a molecule, which means that besides the silicon, it has oxygen attached to it... or smthing like that... don't laugh at me, ppl, i was the worst chemistry student ever
so, is this difference making them 2 different products for different purposes? in my research, the benefits of both were quite similar, so, i thought i should ask around the blog, to see what people who use one or the other have to say.

to be more specific i want to know if there is a major difference between these 2:

http://www.growcenter-noord.nl/silica-power-p-4412.html?language=en

http://www.growthtechnology.com/product/liquid-silicon/

and, also, do you know if this BAC silica power is a good silica product? anyone else can tell me? do you use it or know someone who uses it?
because if silica is better, i will buy the silica product, not the other one. doing research i read people recommending other brands, but in my growshop this is the only silica product they have.

what is the silica you are using? what brand?

thank you!!

Silicate = SiO4-
Silica = SiO2
Silicon = Si

It is possible that many people are confusing Silica (SiO2) with Silicate (SiO4-).

The ionic compound Silicate (SiO4-) is how you can get silicon in solution. Often found bonded to potassium as potassium silicate.

You should think of them as one in the same, though they are not, technically the same.

Similarly you might talk about phosphorus, P, but you can only get it in the form of Phosphate, PO4-.

MisterBlah said:

Silicate = SiO4-
Silica = SiO2
Silicon = Si

It is possible that many people are confusing Silica (SiO2) with Silicate (SiO4-).

The ionic compound Silicate (SiO4-) is how you can get silicon in solution. Often found bonded to potassium as potassium silicate.

You should think of them as one in the same, though they are not, technically the same.

Similarly you might talk about phosphorus, P, but you can only get it in the form of Phosphate, PO4-.

Click to expand...

thank you!!!