The basic structural unit of silicates is SiO 4 4− .It is a tetrahedral unit. Si atom is sp3 hybridized and forms four covalent bonds with 4 oxygen atoms.B is correct option.

Chemical Formula of Silicate

Silicate is a type of chemical compound that contains silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) atoms. It is widely found in nature and is the primary component of minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and mica. Silicates have diverse structures and properties, making them important in various industrial and geological processes.

Answer:

The correct chemical formula of silicate is a- SiO2.

Explanation:

Silicate minerals are composed of silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, where each silicon atom is surrounded by four oxygen atoms. The tetrahedra can be connected in different ways, resulting in various silicate structures. The chemical formula represents the ratio of silicon to oxygen atoms in the compound.

Here are the details of the given options:

a- SiO2: This is the correct chemical formula for silicate. It represents one silicon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms, forming a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron. This is the basic building block of silicate minerals.

b- SiO4⁴-: This formula represents a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron with a charge of 4-. However, silicate minerals do not typically exist with this charge. The charge on the tetrahedron is generally neutral or balanced by the presence of other cations.

c- Si2O4⁴-: This formula suggests the presence of two silicon atoms bonded to four oxygen atoms, resulting in a tetrahedron with a charge of 4-. Again, this is not a common arrangement in silicate minerals.

d- Si2O: This formula represents two silicon atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. While silicon can form compounds with oxygen, this particular formulation is not representative of typical silicate minerals.

In conclusion, the correct chemical formula for silicate is SiO2, which represents the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron commonly found in silicate minerals.