Disilicon
Disilicon, or the silicon dimer Si2, is a diatomic molecule consisting of two silicon atoms. It is an example of a homo-nuclear diatomic of group 14 and is primarily observed in high-temperature gas-phase environments, such as plasmas, laser ablation plumes, combustion byproducts, and some astrophysical contexts, where transient Si2 units can form before reacting further.
Bonding and structure: The Si–Si bond in Si2 is relatively weak compared with C2; the molecule has
Spectroscopic and experimental notes: Si2 is detected by high-resolution spectroscopy and mass spectrometry; due to its
Relevance: Si2 serves as a benchmark for bonding theories in heavier group-14 elements and provides insight