Ch.22 - The Main Group Elements

McMurry8th EditionChemistryISBN: 9781292336145Not the one you use?Change textbook

McMurry 8th Edition

Ch.22 - The Main Group Elements

Problem 22.100

Chapter 22, Problem 22.100

Using the shorthand notation of Figure 22.9, draw the structure of the cyclic silicate anion in which four SiO₄ tetrahedra share O atoms to form an eight-membered ring of alternating Si and O atoms. Give the formula and charge of the anion.

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Identify the basic building block of silicate structures, which is the SiO_4^{4-} tetrahedron.

Understand that in cyclic silicates, these SiO_4 tetrahedra share oxygen atoms to form rings.

Visualize the structure: four SiO_4 tetrahedra sharing oxygen atoms to form an eight-membered ring, alternating between silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) atoms.

Determine the formula by considering the number of Si and O atoms in the ring. Since each tetrahedron shares two oxygen atoms with its neighbors, calculate the total number of oxygen atoms in the ring.

Calculate the charge of the anion by considering the charge of each SiO_4^{4-} unit and how sharing oxygen atoms affects the overall charge.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Cyclic Silicates

Cyclic silicates are a class of silicate minerals where silicon-oxygen tetrahedra are linked in a ring structure. In these structures, each tetrahedron shares two of its oxygen atoms with neighboring tetrahedra, forming a closed loop. The arrangement can vary in size, and the cyclic nature influences the physical and chemical properties of the silicate.

Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron

The silicon-oxygen tetrahedron is the fundamental building block of silicate minerals, consisting of a central silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms at the corners of a tetrahedron. This tetrahedral arrangement allows for various bonding configurations, leading to diverse silicate structures, including chains, sheets, and rings, depending on how the tetrahedra are linked.

Anion Charge and Formula

The charge of an anion is determined by the balance of the total negative charge from the oxygen atoms and the positive charge from the silicon atoms. In the case of cyclic silicates, the overall charge can be calculated based on the number of tetrahedra and the shared oxygen atoms. The formula typically reflects the ratio of silicon to oxygen, indicating the structure's composition and charge.

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Using the shorthand notation of Figure 22.9, draw the structure of the cyclic silicate anion in which four SiO4 tetrahedra share O atoms to form an eight-membered ring of alternating Si and O atoms. Give the formula and charge of the anion.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

Key Concepts

Cyclic Silicates

Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron

Anion Charge and Formula

Using the shorthand notation of Figure 22.9, draw the structure of the cyclic silicate anion in which four SiO₄ tetrahedra share O atoms to form an eight-membered ring of alternating Si and O atoms. Give the formula and charge of the anion.