Silicates (SiO4)-4: salts of silicic acids:

(1) Silicates is the general term applied for the solids with silicon – oxygen bonds.

(2) Silicates are regarded as the salts of silicic acid, H₄SiO₄. All the silicates are comprised of SiO₄ units.

(3) The Silicates units have a tetrahedral structure formed as a result of sp3 hybridization. Silicon atom has its complete octet but each oxygen atom is still short of one electron to complete its octet. They can complete their octet by taking up 4 electrons from a metal, getting converted to an anion [SiO4]^-4

(4) All the solids Silicates contain silicate ion (SiO4)^4- as the basic structural unit.

(5)The silicate ion is tetrahedral in structure and when the one or more oxygen atoms between such tetrahedrons, a complex structure arise.

(6) All the silicates units are non planer

(7) The Si atom in Silicates unit is covalently bonded to 4 oxygen atoms. Each oxygen atom possesses a formal negative charge. Hence each tetrahedral unit has a formal charge of –4. When linked together, the extended units are also negatively charged. Presence of other metallic ions such as Ca²⁺or Mg²⁺ are necessary for electrical neutrality.

(8) The covalent Si-O bond, having a bond enthalpy of 466 kJ mol^-1 is particularly strong compared with the C-C bond which has a bond enthalpy of 347 kJ mol^-1. The linkage -Si-O-Si-O- is very stable and instead of existing as discrete units of (SiO4)^4- ions, the silicates tend to form chains, sheets or networks.

 CLASSIFACATION OF SILICATES:

The silicates may be classified in to following groups chain silicates, ring silicates, cyclic silicates, sheet silicates, three – dimensional silicates depends on the way in which the (SiO4)4- tetrahedral units are linked together.

(1) Ortho silicates or Neso Silicates (SiO4)^4-: 

Number of oxygen shared by tetrahedron is Zero(0).Orthosilicates are salts of orthisilicic  acid

Example; Zircon ( ZrSiO₄ ), Phenacite (Be₂SiO₄) , Willemite (Zn₂SiO₄),  

(2) Pyro silicates or Sorosilicates or Disisilicates (Si₂O₇^-6) :    

(1) Number of oxygen atoms shared per tetrahedron is 1(one).

(2)Total number of shared oxygen towards one Si atom is ½

(3)Total contribution of all oxygen towards one Si atom is 3.5

(4) In pyrosilicates, one tetrahedron shares its one oxygen atom with other tetrahedron on they are salts of pyrosilicic acids .

Example: Thortveitite (Se₂Si₂O₇); lanthanoids disilicates (Ln₂[Si₂O₇] and Hemimorphite  Zn₄ (OH)₂[Si₂O₇].

(3) Meta silicates: 

 (A) Linear chain Meta Silicates [(SiO₃)_n ^-2n  ] :

In chain silicates each tetrahedron shares its  two  oxygen atoms with other tetrahedron atom such that a linear endless chain of silicates is formed , however in terminating chain silicates (n) tetrahedron  shares one oxygen.

Example: Spodumene (LiAlSiO₃)₂ ; Wollastonite [Ca₃(SiO₃)₃] Enstatite [Mg₂SiO₃)₃] and Diopsite [ CaMg(SiO₃)₂]

(B) Cyclic meta silicates [(Si_nO_3n) ^-2n  ] :

(1) Number of oxygen atoms shared per tetrahedron is 2(Two).

(2) Total number of shared oxygen towards one Si atom is one (1)

(3) In cyclic silicates each tetrahedron shares its two oxygen atoms with other tetrahedron atom such that a cyclo silicates is formed.

(4) There are several cyclo silicate is known like n= 3, 4, 5 ,6 but  3 and 6 is most common.

Example: Wollasponite [ Ca₃(Si₃O₉)] , Benitoite [BaTi(Si₃O₉)] , Beryl [Be₃Al₂(Si₃O₉)₂]

(4) Double chain Silicates or Amphiboles  (Si₄O₁₁)^-6n :

(1) Number of Silicon atoms in basic units is 2 .

(2) Total number of oxygen atoms in basic unit is 5.5.

(3) Number of oxygen atoms shared per tetrahedron is 3+2/2=2.5

(4) In this type silicates two strands of chain silicates are linked to each other by sharing oxygen atoms, Amphiboles are an asbestos mineral which contains magnesium.

(5)  General formula of double chain silicates (Si₄O₁₁)^-6n

Example: Tremotites  [Ca₂Mg₅(Si₄O₁₁)₂(OH)₂] Crocidolite [Na₂Fe₃Fe₂(Si₄O₁₁)₂(OH)₂]

(5) Sheet Silicates or phyllo silicates [(Si₂O₅)_n]^-2n:

In Sheet Silicates, one tetrahedron shares its three (3) oxygen atom such that  a two dimensional non planer layer is formed , such type of silicates have greasy touch or lubricating action.

Example:  Clay [Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)_{4 ,}Talc or Soap Stone  [Mg₃(Si₂O₅)₂(OH)_{2 ,} Kaolinite  [Al₂(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄  Chrysotite (white Asbestos)  [Mg(Si₂O₅)(OH)₄

(6) 3D-Silicates:

Examples: Silica, Quarts, feldspar, Zeolite, Ultramarine

Related Questions:

(1) What is "Zeolite's" ?

(2) What are most common cyclic meta silicates?

(3) What are the Silicones? Give one example one cyclic Silicone?