The tetrahedral structure that forms the backbone of all silicate minerals is composed of silicon and what other element?
A)magnesium
B)oxygen
C)iron
D)carbon

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The backbone of all silicate minerals is composed of silicon and oxygen, forming a tetrahedral structure. This is because silicon has an atomic number of 14 and can hold up to four covalent bonds. Each of the corners of the tetrahedron is occupied by an oxygen atom, with the silicon atom at the center. Therefore, the correct answer is B) oxygen.

The Tetrahedral Structure That Forms the Backbone of All Silicate