SiO4 tetrahedron in silicates

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Silicon-oxygen tetrahedron representations in silicate minerals: (1) Ball & Stick, (2) Space filling and (3) Polyhedral.

The SiO4 tetrahedron (or SiO4 anionic group) is the basic building-block of silicate minerals. It is composed of one silicon ion (Si4+) (blue atom) surrounded by four oxygen ions (O2-) (red atom). The SiO4 tetrahedrons link up in various patterns and bond with metal ions to form specific silicate minerals. This is a fundamental component of most silicates in the Earth’s crust (more than 1200 minerals).

The Si-O bond is very strong and has about 50:50 ionic:covalent character. The average length of the Si-O bond is 1.62 Å. The discrete value of the Si-O bond depends on the nature of the cations present within the crystal structure.

Note: CPK color coding was used for element colors.

Website: http://geology.uaic.ro/muzee/mineralogie/

Concept & 3D-modelling by Andrei Ionut APOPEI