Silikaattiyksikkö

Silikaattiyksikkö refers to the fundamental building block of silicate minerals, which are the most abundant group of minerals in the Earth's crust. The basic unit is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, often abbreviated as TO4. This structure consists of a central silicon atom covalently bonded to four oxygen atoms arranged in a tetrahedral configuration. The silicon atom carries a positive charge of +4, and each oxygen atom carries a negative charge of -2, resulting in a net charge of -4 for the entire tetrahedron.

These tetrahedra can link together in various ways by sharing oxygen atoms, forming different structural arrangements. The way these silikaattiyksiköt polymerize determines the classification of silicate minerals. Common arrangements include isolated tetrahedra (nesosilicates), pairs of tetrahedra (sorosilicates), rings of tetrahedra (cyclosilicates), single chains (inosilicates), double chains (inosilicates), sheets (phyllosilicates), and three-dimensional frameworks (tectosilicates). The specific bonding and arrangement of these units, along with the presence of other cations like magnesium, iron, aluminum, calcium, sodium, and potassium, define the properties and diversity of silicate minerals. Silicates constitute the vast majority of rocks and soils, playing a crucial role in geological processes and material science.