Name the type of the structure of silicate in which one oxygen atom of $[ ext{SiO}_4]^{4-}$ is shared?

Question

Name the type of the structure of silicate in which one oxygen atom of $[	ext{SiO}_4]^{4-}$ is shared?

Accepted Answer

In silicates, the basic structural unit is the $[	ext{SiO}_4]^{4-}$ tetrahedron. Depending on the number of oxygen atoms shared between adjacent tetrahedra, silicates are classified as follows:
- **Orthosilicates:** No oxygen atom is shared.
- **Pyrosilicates:** One oxygen atom is shared between two tetrahedra.
- **Chain or Cyclic silicates:** Two oxygen atoms are shared.
- **Sheet (Phyllosilicates):** Three oxygen atoms are shared.
- **Three-dimensional (Framework) silicates:** All four oxygen atoms are shared.
Therefore, the silicate structure in which one oxygen atom is shared is a pyrosilicate.

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