Question

The compound zirconium silicate occurs in cubic zirconia. Use the periodic table to predict the formula for zirconium silicate, given the formula of titanium silicate, \(\mathrm{TiSiO}_{4}\).

Short answer

The formula for zirconium silicate is \(\mathrm{ZrSiO}_{4}\).

Step-by-step solution

Understand the Problem

We need to predict the chemical formula for zirconium silicate. We are given the formula for titanium silicate: \(\mathrm{TiSiO}_{4}\). We will use this information along with the periodic table to deduce the formula for zirconium silicate.

Analyze the Relationship

Titanium ( Ti) and zirconium ( Zr) are both transition metals and belong to group 4 of the periodic table. This means that they typically form similar chemical bonds and compounds. Thus, we can predict that zirconium will form a silicate with a similar structure to that of titanium silicate.

Identify Analogous Structure

Given titanium silicate is \(\mathrm{TiSiO}_{4}\), zirconium should replace titanium in this silicate structure. Since both elements share similar chemical properties due to belonging to the same group, the formula for zirconium silicate will closely resemble that of titanium silicate.

Write the Predicted Formula

By replacing titanium \((\mathrm{Ti})\) with zirconium \((\mathrm{Zr})\) in the formula for titanium silicate, we write the formula for zirconium silicate. The predicted chemical formula for zirconium silicate is \(\mathrm{ZrSiO}_{4}\).

Key concepts

Understanding the Periodic Table

The periodic table is a comprehensive arrangement of elements, organized by their atomic number, electron configurations, and recurring chemical properties. It's essentially a map that helps scientists and chemists understand and predict the chemical behavior of elements.

• Elements are arranged in rows called periods and columns called groups or families.
• Each element's position tells a lot about its properties and the kind of compounds it can form.
• For instance, elements in the same column (group), like titanium (Ti) and zirconium (Zr), often share similar chemical properties because they have the same number of valence electrons.

The periodic table is crucial for predicting how they will interact with other elements and form compounds, like silicates.

Exploring Transition Metals

Transition metals are a group of elements found in the center of the periodic table. They are known for their ability to form a wide variety of compounds due to their unique electronic structures.

• These metals often have multiple oxidation states, meaning they can lose varying numbers of electrons to form different compounds.
• Titanium (Ti) and zirconium (Zr) fall under this category and are part of group 4.
• This category of metals is distinguished by their ability to form complex ions and colored compounds, which are valuable in various industrial applications.

Their similarities make understanding the properties of one, like zirconium, easier if you already know the properties of another, like titanium.

Understanding Silicate Minerals

Silicate minerals are a major component of Earth's crust, making up over 90% of it. They are compounds composed mainly of silicon and oxygen, often combined with metals.

• The basic building block of these minerals is the silicate tetrahedron, a structure composed of one silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms.
• In the example of zirconium silicate, the silicon and oxygen form the framework, while zirconium acts as a stabilizing metal.
• Similar to \\(\mathrm{TiSiO}_{4}\), the predicted zirconium silicate \\(\mathrm{ZrSiO}_{4}\) maintains the structure where metals join the silicate tetrahedrons.

Understanding these minerals helps in predicting the formulas of similar compounds, as we can see with zirconium silicate using the framework known from titanium silicate.