What is the most desirable oxidation state of silicon as an atom?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 14, 2016

Well it is probably as quartz, #SiO_2#.

Explanation:

So what is the oxidation state of silicon in quartz? Clearly it is #+IV#. Its Group 4 congener, #C#, forms carbon dioxide, #CO_2#, whose sublimation point is #-78# #""^@C#. Silicon dioxide has a boiling point of #2950# #""^@C#. How do you account for this difference?

Related questions
See all questions in Oxidation Numbers
Impact of this question
1918 views around the world
You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License