can you identify a substance from its chemical analysis ???

Question

i have had a substance analysed and recieved a chemical analysis but still unsure of what it's called. is it possible it is a zeolite ore ?


loss free raw
SiO2 96.63 93.05
Al2O3 1.69 1.63
Fe2O3 0.88 0.85
TiO2 0.05 0.05
MnO 0.01 0.01
CaO 0.24 0.24
MgO 0.12 0.12
Na2O 0.05 0.05
K2O 0.15 0.14
P3O5 0.03 0.03
SO3 0.15 0.14
LOI - 3.70

it is a chalk like substance that is mined in the philippines but due to commuiinication problems we are unsure what it is

Answer 1

Sometimes its not so easy to determine what EXACTLY a substance is from only its chemical composition, and you may need more information. For example, there may be several organic (carbon-containing) compounds which have exactly the same composition, but a different molecular structure (called isomers), and you may need more iunformation (eg, the material's physical characteristics) to tell what it is.

The problem is even more complicated with rock-forming minerals; because many of them exist in different forms, based on a varying silicate structure, and their physical characteristics can vary. The simplest example of this is the difference between diamond (the hardest material known) and graphite (one of the softest). The chemical composition of both minerals is pure carbon, but their crystal structures are quite different.

Edit:
With respect to the analysis you submittyed, this material, containiong 96% Silicon dioxide with a Loss on ignition of 3.6% (organic matter) and with very low contents of other oxides, the material is a very fine silica sand, containing a small amount of clay contamination (which acounts for the Al oxide). With a trace only of calcium oxide, it is certainly not chalk. This analysis is actually quite a high grade for a pure silica, but with Fe2O3 of 0.8, it is not pure enough to be used as a clear glass sand.
You didn't say whether the material in the mined state is a hard rock (in which case it would be quartzite), or a sandy material. Very fine silica,, with a significant proportion of material finer that a few microns in size can be hazardous to the lungs in the dried state (silicosis).
With respect to my comments above, identification is a lot easier if there is only one major oxide present

I used to make industrial silica products.
Hope that helps.

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Answer 2

of course you can, you can identify components of a mixture by solvent extraction, chromatography, spectrophotometry.
what type of analysis are you refering to? not every chemical analysis is for the determination of a substance.

woah I think you need to consult some one with much more experience than anyone here can offer. (I only have basic training in organic chemistry and industrial and environmental analytical chemistry) I am no expert so i won't offer you a conclusive answer I say find some one qualified to explain it to you..... :)

Answer 3

yes because in the analysis you get the constituent element that makes up the substance