Page |1

University of central Punjab

Course BS-Chemistry
Submitted to Sir Siddique Bashir
Department of Chemistry
Semester 1st

Assignment No. 03

Assignment title Silicon and silicates

Prepared by Usman Ghani

Roll No. BSCH:0062
Section CF-2
 Page |2

Silicon
Silicon is 2nd most abundant element on earth. It is always found with Oxygen. It is estimated
that silicon form 27.6% by weight of earth’s crust. Silicon dioxide, silica, SiO 2, is found comparatively pure
as quartz, flint, agate and sand is formed by weathering of igneous rocks, which contain silicates

Symbol l Si
Atomic No. 14
Atomic mass 32
Family Carbon
e- configuration [Ne]3s2,3p2
Isotopes S28,s29,s30

Silicon structure:

Preparation:
Silica can be prepared by different methods vary greatly, but all these forms have the same
crystal structure, differing in particle size and content of impurities.

 In laboratory, silicon is prepared by heating together dry powder quartz and magnesium power.

SiO2 + Mg→ 2MgO +Si

 On industrial scale, silicon is prepared by reducing silica with carbon in an electric furnace:

SiO2 + 2C→ 2CO + Si

Properties:
 Silicon is hard and brittle solids with melting point 1413c 0.
 All forms of silica have diamond like structure.
 Large crystals of silicon are non reactive and the are not attacked by halogens or by hydrofluoric
acid.
 Page |3

 Powder silicon cab be attacked by these reagent.

 All form of silicon can be attacked by dilute solution of caustic alkali
 Water which have been in contact with glass will dissolve silicon on bonding.

Si + 2OH- + H2O →SiO32- + 2H2

Uses:

 Silicon is one of the most useful elements to mankind. Most is used to make alloys including
aluminium-silicon and ferro-silicon (iron-silicon). These are used to make dynamo and transformer
plates, engine blocks, cylinder heads and machine tools and to deoxidise steel.
 Silicon is also used to make silicones. These are silicon-oxygen polymers with methyl groups
attached. Silicone oil is a lubricant and is added to some cosmetics and hair conditioners. Silicone
rubber is used as a waterproof sealant in bathrooms and around windows, pipes and roofs.
 The element silicon is used extensively as a semiconductor in solid-state devices in the computer
and microelectronics industries. For this, hyperpure silicon is needed. The silicon is selectively
doped with tiny amounts of boron, gallium, phosphorus or arsenic to control its electrical
properties.
 Granite and most other rocks are complex silicates, and these are used for civil engineering
projects. Sand (silicon dioxide or silica) and clay (aluminium silicate) are used to make concrete and
cement. Sand is also the principal ingredient of glass, which has thousands of uses. Silicon, as
silicate, is present in pottery, enamels and high-temperature ceramics.
 Silicon carbides are important abrasives and are also used in lasers.

Silicates
Silicates are the minirals containing silicon and oxygen in tetrahedral SiO 44- units which are linked together
in several patterns. Depending on the way the tetrahedral units are linked,the silicates are classified into
following types

 Ortho silicates ( Neso silicates)

 Pyro silicate (Soro silicates)
 Cyclic silicates (Ring silicates)
 Chain silicates (Pyroxenes)
 Double chain silicates (Amphiboles)
 Sheet (Phyllosilicates)
 Three dimensional (tecto silicates)

1. Ortho silicates:
Ortho silicates (or Neso silicates) are the simplest silicates which contain discrete
4-
SiO4  tetrahedral units. 
 Page |4

E.g.    1) Phenacite - Be2SiO4 

          2) Willemite - Zn2SiO4 
                Note: The Be and Zn ions are tetrahedrally surrounded by the oxygen atoms of silicate. 
          3) Olivine - (Fe/Mg) 2SiO4 : The cations are octahedrally coordinated to the oxygen atoms of the
silicate. 
          4) Zircone - ZrSiO4 : The coordination number of Zr4+ is 8.
2. Pyro silicates:
Pyro silicates (or Soro silicates)  contain Si2O76- ions which are formed by joining two
tetrahedral SiO44- which share one oxygen atom at one corner (one oxygen is removed while
joining).

E.g.     1) Thortveitite - Sc2Si2O7

3. Cyclic silicates:
Cyclic silicates  contain (SiO3)n2n- ions which are formed by linking three or more
tetrahedral SiO44- units cyclically. Each unit shares two oxygen atoms with other units. 

E.g.     1) Benitoite - BaTi(SiO3)3 : contain three tetrahedra arranged cyclically. 

           2) Beryl - Be3Al2(SiO3)6 : contain six-silicate rings. It is an aluminosilicate. Each aluminium is
surrounded by 6 oxygen atoms octahedrally.
 
 Page |5

4. Chain silicates(pyroxene):
Chain silicates or pyroxenes contain (SiO3)n2n- ions which are formed by linking ‘n’
number of tetrahedral SiO44- units linearly. Each unit shares two oxygen atoms with other units. 

 E.g.     1) Spodumene - LiAl(SiO3)2 

            2) Diopsite - CaMg(SiO3)2 
            3) Wollastonite - Ca3(SiO3)3

5. Double chain silicates(amphiboles):

The general formula of  double chain silicates (or Amphiboles) is (Si4O11)n6n- .
There are two types of tetrahedra: those sharing 3 vertices and those sharing only 2 vertices.

E.g.     1) Asbestos - These are noncombustible fibrous silicates. They have been used for thermal
insulation material, brake linings, construction material and filters. These are carcinogenic amphiboles
affecting the lungs. Hence their applications are restricted nowadays. 
           2) Tremolite - Ca2Mg5(Si4O11)2(OH)2
 Note: The single and double chain silicates are collectively known as Inosilicates.
6. Sheet silicates(phylosilicates):
The general formula of  Sheet or Phyllo silicates is (Si2O5)n2n- . Each SiO4 tetrahedron
shares three oxygen atoms with others and thus by forming two-dimensional sheets. The metal
ions present hold the layers by weak electrostatic forces. As a result minerals containing (Si 2O5)n2n- 
anions are soft and can be cleaved easily just like graphite. 
 Page |6

E.g.     1) Talc - Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 : It is the main ingredient of soap stone. 

            2) Clay : It is an aluminosilicate with sheet structure. 
            3) Kaolinite - AlSiO5(OH)5
7. three dimensional silicates(tectosilicates):
The general formula of three dimensional or tecto silicates is (SiO2)n . All the oxygen atoms of
SiO4 are shared with other tetrahedra and thus by forming three-dimensional network. 
E.g. SiO2 - Quartz, Tridymite and Crystobalite - These are the crystalline forms of silica. 
When SiO44- units are replaced by AlO45- units, three dimensional aluminosilicates are formed. 
E.g. Feldspar, Zeolites, Ult etc.,

Uses of silicates:
 in fire proofing of wood and textile
 preservation of egg
 furniture polish
 adhesive along with other cementing materials
 in formation of soap
 fixing labels to glass
 paint formation