What is silicate tetrahedron?

Question

What is silicate tetrahedron?

Answer 1

It is a basic molecular building block of silicate minerals. It consists of 4 oxygen atoms arranged in a tetrahedron shape around a silicon atom.

Here's a diagram to see the shape:

http://www.geo.wvu.edu/~wilson/geol1/lec15/lec153.htm



The bonds in a silicate tetrahedron: oxygen is -2, silicon is +4 and the net charge is -4



There are six ways to bond molecules of silicate tetrahedrons:

1. Individual tretrahedrons connected by cations

2. Chain structure joined by cations

3. Double chains joined by cations

4. Sheet structure joined by cations

5. Framework structure joined by covalent bonds

6. Ring structure



One combination of the above is worth noting, being feldspar which has aluminum ions substituting for some of the silicon and there are ionic bonds with the aluminate tetrahedrons and some covalent bonds between the silicate tetrahedrons.



The silicates form an incredibly large group of minerals. You can go here to see most of them: http://www.webmineral.com/strunz/VIII.shtml





This question is leading up to the classes or groups of minerals. There are a number of classes built around having common molecular building blocks.



Two of the classification systems are Dana Classification and Strunz Classification. You can see these here:

http://www.webmineral.com/strunz.shtml

http://www.webmineral.com/danaclass.shtml





Please go back and look at my answer for one of your questions on quartz/calcite. I added an answer to the question you asked on your first post, which I just noticed. How are we doing? Is this helping?

Answer 2

Silicate Tetrahedron - Oxygen and silicon together form an exceedingly strong complex ion, the silicate anion (SiO4)4-. In the silicate anion, the oxygen ions pack into the smallest space possible for four large spheres. The smallest space is taken if the oxygens sit at the corners of a tetrahedron and the small silicon cation sits in the space between the oxygens at the center of the tetrahedron. Because the silicate anion has a negative charge (this means that each oxygen in the anion needs an electron to become stable) the oxygens must accept electrons from cations or share electrons with other silicate anions. Most silicate minerals contain a large number of silicate anions.

Answer 3

Silicate Tetrahedron is the basic unit of the Silicate. This silicate class is based on the different ways that the bonds are formed between the units of Silicate Tetrahedron.

Answer 4

A mineral is a naturally occurring substance formed through geological processes that has a characteristic chemical composition, a highly ordered atomic structure and specific physical properties. A rock, by comparison, is an aggregate of minerals and need not have a specific chemical composition. Minerals range in composition from pure elements and simple salts to very complex silicates with thousands of known forms. The largest group of minerals by far are the silicates (most rocks are >95% silicates), which are composed largely of silicon and oxygen, with the addition of ions such as aluminium, magnesium, iron, and calcium. Some important rock-forming silicates include the feldspars, quartz, olivines, pyroxenes, amphiboles, garnets, and micas. So, yes.

Answer 5

Silicate Tetrahedron

Answer 6

http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/class.htm

Answer 7

http://www.galleries.com/minerals/silicate/class.htm

Answer 8

glass