Silikátok

Silicates are a large and important class of chemical compounds, most commonly minerals, that contain silicon and oxygen as their basic structural components. The fundamental unit of a silicate structure is the silicon-oxygen tetrahedron, consisting of one silicon atom covalently bonded to four oxygen atoms. These tetrahedra can link together in various ways, forming diverse silicate structures. These linkages include isolated tetrahedra, paired tetrahedra, rings, chains, sheets, and three-dimensional frameworks.

The vast majority of Earth's crust is composed of silicate minerals, making them the most abundant mineral group. Examples of common silicate minerals include quartz (SiO2), feldspars (which are aluminosilicates), micas, pyroxenes, and olivines. The specific arrangement of the silicon-oxygen tetrahedra, along with the presence of other cations like aluminum, iron, magnesium, and calcium, determines the mineral's properties, such as its hardness, cleavage, and color. Silicates are not only geologically significant but also have numerous industrial applications. They are used in the production of glass, ceramics, cement, and as fillers in plastics and paints.