The name for SiO2 is silicon dioxide. Silicon is a semi-metal. Based on your knowledge of naming compounds would silicon dioxide be lonic or molecular in nature. Why?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
Silicon dioxide is molecular in nature.
Explanation
Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) is a molecular compound, not an ionic one. This classification is based on the types of elements involved and the nature of the bonding between them. In general, compounds formed between metals and nonmetals are typically ionic, while those formed between nonmetals or between a nonmetal and a metalloid are molecular. Silicon is classified as a metalloid, and oxygen is a nonmetal. When these two elements combine, they form covalent bonds rather than transferring electrons as in ionic compounds.
In silicon dioxide, each silicon atom is covalently bonded to four oxygen atoms in a three-dimensional network. Similarly, each oxygen atom is bonded to two silicon atoms. This arrangement creates a strong and rigid lattice of covalently bonded atoms. Because the atoms share electrons rather than completely transferring them, this structure confirms the molecular (or more specifically, covalent network) nature of silicon dioxide.
The name “silicon dioxide” also follows the rules for naming molecular compounds. Prefixes such as “di” are used to indicate the number of atoms present. The presence of the prefix “di” before “oxide” shows that two oxygen atoms are involved, which is a hallmark of molecular nomenclature. Ionic compounds, on the other hand, do not typically use prefixes in their names; they use charge balancing instead.
Additionally, the physical properties of silicon dioxide also support its classification as a molecular compound. It does not conduct electricity in its solid state, which is typical for covalent substances, unlike ionic compounds which often conduct electricity when molten or dissolved in water. Furthermore, SiO₂ has a very high melting point, which is consistent with a strong covalent network structure.
Therefore, due to the type of elements involved, the covalent bonding, the naming convention, and the physical properties, silicon dioxide is best classified as a molecular compound.
