Also known as sodium silicate, water glass is a solution that may appear as a barely solid agent or a thick liquid. There are a number of different uses for water glass, with many of them related to the manufacture of products that encompass such areas as building materials, textiles, and fire safety. When combined with magnesium silicate, water glass can also be helpful in such tasks as repairing mufflers on automobiles.

In all applications, water glass is used to either create some sort of seal or increasing the binding properties of various products. Because the silicate can take on the attributes of tiny pieces of glass when subjected to a great deal of heat, the compound is sometimes referred to as magic crystals. The crystals are introduced into mixtures including other elements and make it possible to create substances that may be applied as a sealant or a protecting layer, or used to seal the connection between two or more objects.

While it is not unusual to hear water glass referred to as liquid glass, the compound is usually somewhat thicker than water in composition. This makes the application of the compound much easier to accomplish. The degree of hydration may be reduced further, causing the water glass to take on a somewhat gelatinous quality. By varying the water content of the water glass, it is possible to tailor the compound for use in different applications.

One of the more common uses of water glass is in the processing of lumber. Treating the wood with the compound helps to retard the deterioration that can occur when the wood is exposed to the elements. In a similar manner, water glass can be used to apply a thin protective coat to a number of different textile products, such as upholstery and carpeting. Even cement often includes amounts of water glass, since the binding properties of the substance can help strengthen the overall structure of any building project making use of cement.

Not all applications of water glass are limited to construction or textile materials. It is also possible to utilize water glass as a means of preserving eggs. This has given the compound additional uses in scientific endeavors and in the preservation of artifacts utilized as part of museum displays.