Si4O10

Si4O10 is a chemical formula used in silicate chemistry to denote a condensed silicon oxide unit consisting of four silicon atoms linked by ten oxygen atoms. In many contexts it is not a neutral discrete oxide but an anionic fragment that forms salts with metal cations; the tetrasilicate anion Si4O10^(4-) is a commonly cited example in mineralogy and solution chemistry. The four silicon atoms are typically tetrahedrally coordinated by oxygen; adjacent tetrahedra share oxygen atoms, producing a condensed silicate network. The precise connectivity can vary, giving different motifs such as chains, rings, or three-dimensional frameworks within larger minerals or synthetic materials.

Si4O10 units appear as structural motifs within silicate minerals rather than as standalone molecules; they occur in salts and in new materials where tetrasilicate linking is present. Their chemistry is important for understanding polymerization, acid-base behavior, and charge balancing in silicate systems. In solution and solid-state studies, researchers examine the condensation of silica units to approach Si4O10 and related oligomers, which serves as a model for the development of glassy or crystalline silicate structures.

The term is primarily of interest in academic contexts, including mineralogy, materials science, and theoretical chemistry.