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Topaz is an aluminosilicate with varying amounts of fluoride and hydroxide ions. The 3-D image (shown) is a portion of its crystal unit cell in which the small gray spheres are aluminum, the small black sphere is silicon, the large red spheres are oxygen, and the large blue spheres can be fluorine or hydroxide. A naturally occurring gemstone, topaz is the birthstone for November.
Pure crystalline topaz is colorless; but impurities in the natural stone cause it to appear in a . Common varieties are yellow to brown (iron), blue (chromium or titanium), and pink to red (manganese). Topaz is one of the hardest natural materials, with a rating of 8 on the 1鈥�10 Mohs scale in which diamond is defined as 10.
A very early mention of topaz in the chemical literature appeared in 1881 when geologist Alexis A. Julien at Columbia University (New York City) wrote an extensive treatise on of the mineral. Julien describes the occurrence of CO2 in topaz samples from several locations worldwide; but he does not seem to arrive at any definite conclusions.
More than a century later, M. S. Hampar and J. Zussman at the University of Manchester (UK) described the . With the use of X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis, and electron microscopy, they found that at 鈮�1000 掳C topaz begins to form silica (SiO2) and mullite [(Al2O3)3鈥�(SiO2)2]. The authors noted that the presence of fluoride reduced the decomposition point of the silica鈥揳lumina system, which is normally in the range of 1700鈥�1800 掳C.
Topaz hazard information
| Hazard class* | GHS code and hazard statement |
|---|---|
| Not classified; most likely not a hazardous substance | 听 |
*Globally Harmonized System (GHS) of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
Molecules in the News
Tetrachlorvinphos1 (TCVP) is a polychlorinated organophosphate insecticide that was by Shell Development Co. (then in Modesto, CA) for use on food crops, animals, and places of occupancy. Crop use was canceled in 1987; today, it is used primarily for flea and tick control on pets.
In 2022, the US Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of TCVP in pet collars, citing that children could be exposed to dangerous levels of it from animal fur. This past September, however, based on data submitted by Hartz Mountain Corp. (Secaucus, NJ), which manufactures pet collars that contain TCVP.
Ubiquinol2 and ubiquinone3 are the reduced and oxidized forms, respectively, of coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is important for cell growth and maintenance in animals and bacteria. Both forms are sold over the counter as dietary supplements for replacing age-related CoQ10 decline and reducing statin-associated muscle pain and weakness. Ubiquinol has greater bioavailability than ubiquinone but is subject to air oxidation if it is not stabilized.
Kaneka Corp. (Osaka, Japan) developed and patented a way to stabilize ubiquinol from oxidation; the company has been selling it in the United States since 2007. Kaneka claims that it has the only legal right to sell ubiquinol in the United States. Last month, it (Jiaxing, China) for infringing its patent. Kaneka alleges that Cocrystal-produced CoQ10 samples obtained from a US importer contained 93% ubiquinol.
1. CAS Reg. No. 22248-79-9.
2. CAS Reg. No. 5677-55-4.
3. CAS Reg. No. 606-06-4.
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Topaz fast facts
| CAS Reg. No. | 1302-59-6 |
| SciFinder nomenclature | Topaz {Al2[F0.5鈥� (OH)0鈥�0.5]2 SiO4} |
| Empirical formula | Al2F1鈥�H0鈥� O4鈥�Si |
| Formula mass | 182.05鈥�184.04 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless crystalsa |
| Melting point | >1000 掳C (dec.) |
| Water solubility | Insolubleb |
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