Silikaanin

Silikaanin refers to silane and related silicon-hydrogen compounds in chemistry. The simplest member is silane, SiH4, while higher silanes extend with general formulas such as Si_nH_(2n+2). Silicon in these molecules is typically four-coordinate, giving tetrahedral geometry, and structures range from linear and branched chains to cyclic forms with Si–Si bonds.

These compounds are usually volatile and reactive. Many silanes are pyrophoric in air and can ignite spontaneously upon exposure to oxygen. They hydrolyze readily in water to form silicon dioxide (silica) and hydrogen gas. Silanes can also participate in hydrosilylation reactions, linking Si–H bonds to carbon–carbon multiple bonds to form Si–C bonds.

Applications of silanes include serving as silicon sources for chemical vapor deposition in semiconductor manufacturing, acting as curing agents or crosslinkers in silicone polymer chemistry, and providing calibration standards in nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (for example, tetramethylsilane). They are also used in organic synthesis as versatile reagents for introducing silicon functionality.

Safety and handling are important due to their reactivity and, for many species, flammability. Silanes are typically handled under inert atmospheres with appropriate ventilation to manage hydrogen evolution and ignition risks. Industrial production methods commonly involve reduction of chlorosilanes with hydrogen or other hydride sources, followed by purification through distillation.