Question

The following units exist in chain silicates: -
A. ${(Si{O_5})_n}^{2n - }$
B. ${\left( {Si{O_3}} \right)_n}^{3 - }$
C. ${\left( {Si{O_3}} \right)_n}^{2n - }$
D. ${\left( {Si{O_6}} \right)_n}^{2 - }$

Answer 1

We know that Silicates are nothing but coordinate compounds which are made up of large anions arranged about small cations. So, the dimensions of the structure of silicates will be controlled by anions. The basic building block of all silicate minerals is the ${[Si{O_4}]^{4 - }}$ tetrahedron. Silicate minerals containing chains are termed as inosilicates. There are two types of chain silicates which are present which are single chain silicates and double chain silicates.

Complete answer:
Chain silicates also known as pyroxenes contains ${\left( {Si{O_3}} \right)_n}^{2n - }$ ions which are formed by linking $'n'$ number of ${[Si{O_4}]^{4 - }}$ tetrahedral units linearly. Each unit shares two oxygen atoms with other units.
Here we see that Silica undergoes hybridisation to form $s{p^3}$ hybridisation. In this hybridisation four unpaired electrons are available. Oxygen binds with these unpaired electrons and hence forms four covalent silica-oxygen bonds. Since the hybridisation of silica oxide is $s{p^3}$ so it will form a tetrahedral geometry with each oxygen atom forming the vertex of the tetrahedron. Thus, the silica to oxygen ratio would be $1:4$ .
We will now draw the structure of ${[Si{O_4}]^{4 - }}$

Let us see some examples of chain silicates: -
Spodumene - $LiAl{(Si{O_3})_2}$
Diopside - $CaMg(Si{O_3}){ _2}$
Wollastonite- $C{a_3}{\left( {Si{O_3}} \right)_3}$
It is clear from the above text that the unit present in chain silicates is ${\left( {Si{O_3}} \right)_n}^{2n - }$.
**Therefore the correct option will be Option C.

Additional information: **
Silicate minerals are very common in the Earth crust since Oxygen and Silicon are the most abundant elements. The oxygen to silicate ratio helps to determine the degree of polymerization. The greater the degree of polymerization, the lower will be the silicate to oxygen ratio.

Note:
Since the silicon ion has a charge of $+ 4$ and each of the four oxygen ions has a charge of $- 2$, the silica tetrahedron has a net charge of $- 4$ . We also see that the formula of cyclic silicates as well as chain silicates is ${\left( {Si{O_3}} \right)_n}^{2n - }$ . Hence, they are considered as oligomers of the unknown $Si{O_3}^{2 - }$ ions. Since the silicon ion has a charge of $+ 4$ and each of the four oxygen ions has a charge of $- 2$, the silica tetrahedron has a net charge of $- 4$ .