The main constituent of water-glass is

The main constituent of water-glass is sodium trioxosilicate(IV). Water-glass, also known as liquid glass, is common terminology for a mixture of sodium silicate and water. The primary chemical component in water-glass is sodium silicate, which includes sodium ions (Na⁺) bonded with silicate ions (SiO₄^4-).

Essentially, when sodium silicate is dissolved in water, it results in a viscous liquid that can be utilized in various applications such as in cements, passive fire protection, textile and lumber processing, and as a sealant. Sodium trioxosilicate(IV) forms a significant part of this mixture as it reacts with other compounds to create a hardened, glass-like structure when it dries. Therefore, when water-glass is mentioned, it is mostly referring to solutions that have sodium trioxosilicate(IV) as their principal compound.