Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geology, Palaeontology & Archaeology => Topic started by: geo driver on 18/11/2010 22:41:24

Title: How many oxygen atoms in the quartz formula?
Post by: geo driver on 18/11/2010 22:41:24

just been reading a book.....

it said the chemical compound of quartz was SiO₂ the it said that it was one silicon atom surrounded by 4 oxygen atoms.... errrrrr
is the book just doing this to confuse me ort is there lots i dont understand

i vouch for the latter

Title: How many oxygen atoms in the quartz formula?
Post by: Bass on 19/11/2010 05:29:11

Quartz molecules are structured as attached tetrahedrons forming a 3-dimension framework, so each Si atom shares 4 oxygen, and each oxygen shares 2 Si atoms. Which gives the simplified formula SiO₂

Title: How many oxygen atoms in the quartz formula?
Post by: geo driver on 20/11/2010 01:03:33

Im so gonna have to play with my daughters plastersean to be able to visualise it, i understand every word you wrote, it just does not make sence intil i can work it out so i can see it. tetrahedron is it pictured as 4 points equaly spaced apart but like..... A 3 sided pyramid, 1 point on top plus 3 other corners, with the middle being the dead center of all 4 points? [:-\]

Title: How many oxygen atoms in the quartz formula?
Post by: Bass on 20/11/2010 16:17:45

maybe this will help

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

 [ Invalid Attachment ]

source: www.quartzpage.de

Title: How many oxygen atoms in the quartz formula?
Post by: geo driver on 23/11/2010 07:09:44

Awsome i understand it now, legendary bass cheers