nesosilicate

silicate structural linkagesThe basic structural unit of all silicate minerals is the silicon tetrahedron in which one silicon atom is surrounded by and bonded to (i.e., coordinated with) four oxygen atoms, each at the corner of a regular tetrahedron.

nesosilicate, compound with a structure in which independent silicate tetrahedrons (each consisting of a central silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms at the corners of a tetrahedron) are present. Because none of the oxygen atoms is shared by other tetrahedrons, the chemical formula contains a multiple of SiO4, as in zircon, topaz, or olivine.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by John P. Rafferty.
Citation Information
Article Title: nesosilicate
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 10 January 2019
Access Date: February 22, 2025