Chemistry · Chapter 18

Structure decides everything

Boron, aluminum, carbon and silicon make solids that behave nothing alike. Switch between them to see the bonding drawn out, then slide the silicate sharing from loose ions to solid rock.

How the atoms are joined the drawing changes with your pick

Compare them all your pick is in red

Pick a material

Diamondcarbon, group 14
Bonding—
Neighbours per atom—
Bond length—
Melting point—
Hardness, Mohs—
Carries current—
where you meet it
—
—

Silicates: share the corners one block, five minerals

SiO4 Si to O is 1 to 4 separate ions
Share nothing and each tetrahedron floats as its own ion.