Comparing E550 - Sodium silicate vs E560 - Potassium silicate

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Overview

E550 - Sodium silicate

Sodium silicate (E550) is a group of sodium salts of silicic acid, often called “water glass.” In foods it is mainly used to keep powders free‑flowing and dry. It appears on labels as sodium silicate, sodium metasilicate, or the E‑number E550.

E560 - Potassium silicate

Potassium silicate (E560) is a highly alkaline salt made from potassium and silica. In food, it is an uncommon additive used in specific, regulated applications, mainly to adjust or stabilize acidity and to help dry mixes handle moisture. On EU labels it may appear as “E560” or “potassium silicate.”

Synonyms

E550

Sodium silicate

Sodium Silicates i‚ Sodium silicate (ii)‚ Sodium metasilicate

E560

Potassium silicate

Functions

anticaking agent

acidity regulator anticaking agent

Origins

Products

Found in 12 products

Found in 1 products

Search rank & volume

#1756.4K / mo🇺🇸U.S.

#312540 / mo🇺🇸U.S.

Awareness score

×55.31

over-aware

×13.99

over-aware

Search volume over time

Interest over time for 3 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Interest over time for 2 keywords in U.S. during the last 10 years.

Popular questions

What is sodium silicate used for?
In foods, E550 sodium silicate is used mainly as an anti-caking/flow agent in dry powders; outside food it serves as a binder/adhesive and deflocculant in detergents, paper, cement, and ceramics.
Is sodium silicate toxic?
At the low levels used in foods it isn’t considered toxic by major regulators, but concentrated solutions are strongly alkaline and can irritate or burn skin, eyes, and the GI tract.
How to use sodium silicate in pottery?
Use it as a deflocculant by adding very small amounts (often with a little soda ash) to clay slip until the desired specific gravity/viscosity is reached; it can also be brushed on and the surface stretched to create crackle textures—wear gloves and avoid over‑addition.
Is sodium silicate safe for skin?
Undiluted or moderately concentrated sodium silicate is not skin‑safe because it’s caustic; only very dilute formulations (as in some cosmetics) are used on skin, and even then may cause irritation in sensitive individuals.