How many single covalent bonds must a silicon atom have?

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 24, 2016

The simplest silane is #SiH_4#, which has 4 single covalent bonds.

Explanation:

As a carbon analogue, silicon forms four covalent bonds with hydrocarbyl groups. Silicon can appear as a heteroatom in many organic molecules, for instance #Si(CH_3)_4#, which is the reference compound for #""^1H " NMR spectroscopy"#.

Silylene compounds, unsaturated silicon compounds, are known, though these are more the provice of the inorganic specialist. Silicones, polysiloxanes, #{(R_2)SiO}_n#, have widespread industrial use.

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