Question

Compare and contrast the structures of the following solids.

a. diamond and graphite

b. silica, silicates, and glass

Short answer

1. Diamond and graphite are the network solids
2. Silicate is a salt consisting of metal cations and polyatomic silicon-oxygen anions.

Step-by-step solution

Diamond and graphite

Both diamond and graphite arecarbon allotropesand are the type of network solid. The compound where each carbon atom is surrounded by thetetrahedral configurationof the carbon atoms forming huge molecules is known as diamond. While in graphite, in fused six-membered rings,the atoms of carbon are arranged. The carbon atoms are present in a particular layer of graphite and are surrounded by 3 other carbons forming atrigonal planar arrangement. The trigonal planar arrangement acquires sp²hybridization where each carbon atom is present in an unhybridized p - atomic orbital.

Compare silica, silicates, and glass

The empirical formulaof silica is SiO₂ and forms a tetrahedral arrangement as the silicon is bonded with four oxygens. The silicates are similar to silica. The structure of silicates is dependent upon the interconnected SiO₂ tetrahedral. In contrast to silica, the silicates have an O/Si ratio greater than silica. The O/Si ratio of silica is 2 : 1 . For creating neutral solid silicates, metal cations are required to balance the charge.