What is the nature of silicon–oxygen bonds in silica(SiO2):a)Pol...
SiO2 is the chemical compound silicon dioxide. It is formed when silicon is exposed to oxygen. It has a covalent bond and is a superior electric insulator, posessing high chemical stability. Quartz is the second most common mineral in the Earth's continental crust.
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What is the nature of silicon–oxygen bonds in silica(SiO2):a)Pol...
Nature of Silicon-Oxygen Bonds in Silica (SiO2)
Silica (SiO2) is a covalent compound that is composed of silicon and oxygen atoms. The nature of the silicon-oxygen bonds in silica can be explained as follows:
Polar Covalent Bonds
The bond between silicon and oxygen in silica is a polar covalent bond, which means that the electrons involved in the bond are not shared equally between the two atoms. In polar covalent bonds, one atom has a greater electronegativity than the other, which causes it to attract the shared electrons more strongly.
In the case of silica, oxygen has a greater electronegativity than silicon, which means that the electrons in the bond are pulled closer to the oxygen atom. This results in a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom and a partial positive charge on the silicon atom.
Properties of Polar Covalent Bonds in Silica
The polar covalent bonds in silica give rise to several important properties of the compound, including:
- High melting and boiling points: The polar covalent bonds in silica are strong, which makes it difficult to break them. As a result, silica has a high melting and boiling point.
- Insolubility in water: The polar covalent bonds in silica do not allow it to dissolve in water, which is a polar solvent.
- Hardness: Silica is a hard material due to the strong polar covalent bonds between the silicon and oxygen atoms.
- Stability: The polar covalent bonds in silica make it a stable compound that is resistant to chemical reactions.
Conclusion
In summary, the silicon-oxygen bonds in silica are polar covalent bonds, which result in a partial positive charge on the silicon atom and a partial negative charge on the oxygen atom. These bonds give rise to several important properties of the compound, including high melting and boiling points, insolubility in water, hardness, and stability.
What is the nature of silicon–oxygen bonds in silica(SiO2):a)Pol...
Polar covalent