Skip to content
Choose the Best Answer · Q9

Q.The basic structural unit of silicates is (NEET)

a) (SiO₃)²⁻
b) (SiO₄)²⁻
c) (SiO)⁻
d) (SiO₄)⁴⁻
Tamil Nadu DgeTextbookSubjectiveImportance★★★★★est
36% · 17/47 Questions
🔒 Locked · start free trial →

You're viewing a preview — the full solution, concept, methods & PYQ mapping are locked.

Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →

Step 1. The chapter defines a silicate as any mineral built from [SiO₄]⁴⁻ tetrahedra linked together in different patterns (Section 2.3.9).

Step 2. This unit — one silicon at the centre, four oxygens at the corners of a tetrahedron — is the single common structural building block of every silicate class described (ortho, pyro, cyclic, chain, sheet and 3-D silicates); larger silicate ions are always built by linking multiple [SiO₄]⁴⁻ tetrahedra and sharing some of their corner oxygens.

Step 3. The charge is 4- because silicon is +4 and each of the four oxygens contributes -2, giving a net of +4 + 4(-2) = -4 for the unshared, discrete ion. …

Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →

Unlock everything free for 14 days

  • Full step-by-step solutions
  • Concept-first explanations
  • Methods, shortcuts & mistakes
  • PYQ mapping + timed mock tests
Start 14-day free trial →See Plans & Pricing →

Full access for 14 days. No credit card required.

←Previous question · evaluationQ8 — Oxidation state of carbon in its hydrides a) +4 b) -4 c) +3 d) +2→Next question · evaluationQ10 — The repeating unit in silicone is a) SiO₂ b) –[Si(R)₂–O]– (a silicon a…