The general purpose of this investigation was an inquiry into the structure and process of setting of Silicic acid gels. The particular object of the work was to obtain quantitative results determining whether or not the structure of the acid radical or silicate radical in the sodium silicate could be changed by allowing the sodium silicate to react with sodium hydroxide, and if so whether or not such a change in structure would effect the time of set if gel. This investigation was carried out in collaboration with other work being done at Union College on several analyzed sodium Silicates manufactured by the Philadelphia Quartz Company. Parts of the data collected in the work in these silicates will necessarily be included in this thesis as a means of comparison. All data are confined entirely to acid gels made by mixing acetic acid and sodium silicate
