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Name the type of the structure of silicate in which one oxygen atom of $[SiO_4]^{4-}$ is shared?
A
Three dimensional
B
Linear chain silicate
C
Sheet silicate
D
Pyrosilicate
Detailed Solution
The basic unit of all silicates is the $[SiO_4]^{4-}$ tetrahedron; silicates are classified by the number of oxygen atoms shared per tetrahedron.
No oxygen shared: orthosilicates, $SiO_4^{4-}$.
One oxygen shared between two tetrahedra: pyrosilicates, $Si_2O_7^{6-}$.
Two oxygens shared: chain or cyclic silicates, $(SiO_3)_n^{2n-}$.
Three oxygens shared: sheet silicates, $(Si_2O_5)_n^{2n-}$; all four shared: three-dimensional silicates, $SiO_2$.
Hence sharing of one oxygen atom gives a pyrosilicate.
No oxygen shared: orthosilicates, $SiO_4^{4-}$.
One oxygen shared between two tetrahedra: pyrosilicates, $Si_2O_7^{6-}$.
Two oxygens shared: chain or cyclic silicates, $(SiO_3)_n^{2n-}$.
Three oxygens shared: sheet silicates, $(Si_2O_5)_n^{2n-}$; all four shared: three-dimensional silicates, $SiO_2$.
Hence sharing of one oxygen atom gives a pyrosilicate.