[pcm81]

After adding water to sodium meta silicate it changes to silicon dioxide. But what happens to sodium? Does it stay there as sodium hydroxide? Sodium hydroxide dissolves glass, if sodium stays in the body of silicon oxide would addition of water leech out sodium, creating sodium hydroxide and dissolve silicon dioxide?

[chenbeier]

Its a matter of concentration. If you add enough water the sodium hydroxide will not etch any more. Only high concentrated sodium hydroxide is able to dissolve glas.

[Arkcon]

After adding water to sodium meta silicate it changes to silicon dioxide.

Uh.  No.  It becomes a solution of sodium meta silicate in water.  Thought I'd mention that, before this became a multi-page thread, based on a bad premise.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_metasilicate

If there's a reactant present, that changes it, then yes, you can get silicon dioxide to precipitate out (silicon dioxide can be called sand.)  If NaOH is present, you can redissolve some silicon dioxide, and get any of a number of sodium silicates (this is actually a complex topic, that I've come to incorrect conclusions on before: http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=29661.msg113224#msg113224.)

[pcm81]

After adding water to sodium meta silicate it changes to silicon dioxide.

Uh.  No.  It becomes a solution of sodium meta silicate in water.  Thought I'd mention that, before this became a multi-page thread, based on a bad premise.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_metasilicate

If there's a reactant present, that changes it, then yes, you can get silicon dioxide to precipitate out (silicon dioxide can be called sand.)  If NaOH is present, you can redissolve some silicon dioxide, and get any of a number of sodium silicates (this is actually a complex topic, that I've come to incorrect conclusions on before: http://www.chemicalforums.com/index.php?topic=29661.msg113224#msg113224.)

I think i realize where my fallacy was. The article i read stated that after the water evaporates the end result is silicon dioxide. Looks like the actual end result is soda glass Na combined with SiO2. I guess if enough silicon dioxide atoms are present on the external surface they will shield the internal sodium from any addition of water preventing sodium hydroxide forming and dissolving silicon dioxide?
It's just surprising that sodium is soluble in water forming sodium hydroxide. Sodium hydroxide can dissolve glass. Yet sodium glass, which is the result of water glass drying, is not water soluble.

[Arkcon]

Write out all the reactions in chemical notation.  Google those equations, to see if they exist.  If so, they'll lead you to pages, where you can learn more.