Question:

The basic structural unit of feldspar, zeolites, mica, and asbestos is :

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All silicates (including sheet, chain, 3-D framework and cyclic silicates) are built from the same tetrahedral unit.
Updated On: Nov 5, 2026
  • \(\mathrm{(SiO_4)^{4-}}\)
  • \(\mathrm{(SiO_3)^{2-}}\)
  • \(\mathrm{SiO_2}\)
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The Correct Option is B

Solution and Explanation

Silicates such as feldspar and zeolites (three-dimensional), mica (sheet) and asbestos (chain) are all built from the \(\mathrm{SiO_4}\) tetrahedron.
Each Si is bonded to four O atoms, giving the orthosilicate unit \(\mathrm{(SiO_4)^{4-}}\); different silicate types arise from sharing 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 oxygen atoms between tetrahedra.
Option (1) is the silicone polymer \(\mathrm{[-R_2Si-O-]_n}\) (R = Me), not a silicate unit; \(\mathrm{(SiO_3)^{2-}}\) is the repeating unit of single-chain silicates only, and \(\mathrm{SiO_2}\) is silica.
Answer: (2) \(\mathrm{(SiO_4)^{4-}}\)
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