To obtain an in-depth view of the surface chemistry of silica we carried out an in-depth literature search. Our goal is to identify pioneering research being conducted on silica and silica-supported catalysts. Of particular interest are the silica-water-cobalt and silica-alcohol-cobalt systems. This study is both macro and micro level so that a comprehensive theoretical basis can be established. From this theoretical knowledge the key areas to consider will be identified and a design of the experiments will be established. The goal is to develop an efficient and effective product (catalyst) using a new methodology developed from past research. Structure of silica: fundamental studies by Stober [ ], Meyer and Heckerman [ ] and Bering and Serpinskii [ ] indicate that the surface of silica is made up of the siloxane network in the bulk, while the hydroxyl groups are attached on silicon atoms. However, these groups are not equivalent in their adsorption or reaction behavior. Figure 1a represents a general arrangement on a silica surface. Belyakova et al. identifies that the number of hydroxyl (silanol) groups on different types of silica surfaces is the same, i.e. 4 -5 SiOH groups per nm2. Lange [] identifies that water associates with these silanol groups in two ways, by hydrogen bonding or by physical adsorption. Dalton and Iler [] state that there is at least a monolayer of water immobilized on the silanol groups due to hydrogen bonding, this “glassy layer” protects the underlying silica network from foreign molecules. Klier and Zettlemoyer [] indicate that water sat "oxygen" on the silanol groups. De Boer and Vleeskens [ ] argued that around 120 oC in ambient air silica loses its adsorbed water unless it is present in the micropores which would otherwise occupy...... half the paper...... ussion: salt adsorption sites as well as for alcohol there are polar silanol groups (Fig 1c). As discussed previously, alcohol does not adsorb to all silanol groups (it prefers the isolated silanol group), and alcohol adsorbs preferentially over salt. Therefore, the anchoring of the salt on the silica surface must be very clear, reducing the possibility of the formation of irreducible mixed metallic supports. Even for substantial absorption, silica gel must be placed in contact with a very concentrated salt-alcohol solution. In our opinion small quantities of water cause ionization of the alcohol which further induces ionization on the silanol surface creating anionic sites suitable for esterification of the ethoxy group. On the other hand, salt is mostly "associated" if water is about 1-2% in the solution and the adsorbed salt will act as a nucleation site for the salt present primarily due to physical interaction.