Silicon Lewis Dot Structure and Its Many Compounds: 11 Facts

Silicon (Si), with an atomic number of 14, has four valence electrons. Its Lewis dot structure represents these electrons as four dots surrounding the symbol ‘Si’. Silicon’s electron configuration is [Ne]3s²3p², indicating its tendency to form four bonds, typical for group 14 elements. The first ionization energy of silicon is 786.5 kJ/mol, reflecting its moderate reactivity. Silicon commonly forms covalent bonds, as seen in silicon dioxide (SiO2) and silicon-based polymers, owing to its ability to share electrons and achieve a stable octet configuration. Silicon’s bonding versatility is crucial in semiconductor technology and materials science.

Silicon Lewis dot structure for Silicon Ion

The Lewis dot structure of Silicon ion gives fundamental knowledge about the purpose of the element to share its electrons with other elements. That would be described in this section.

The position of Silicon in periodic table is in group 14 and 3rd period. That means the element has 14 electrons in tits electronic configuration and has 4 valance electrons. The element undergoes electronic reaction to get stable configuration like its nearest noble gas that is Neon. Therefore, it has an urge to fill the octet.

silicon lewis dot structure
Silicon Lewis dot structure from Wikimedia

The Lewis dot structure of silicon shows the number of valance electron present in the element and indicates the need of electron to fill octet. Therefore, Silicon needs four more electrons I its last electron shell that are in the highest energy level.

Basically, silicon shares its valance electrons with other elements. It does not tend to transfer the valance electrons always. However, it can create ionic bonds with other elements. Normally, it generates covalent compounds. There is an existence of Silicon ion in chemistry with four valance electrons, which could be shared or donated by the element.

Lewis dot structure of Silicon dioxide

Silicon oxide is made off Silicon and oxygen and the chemical formula of this compound is SiO2. Here electron-sharing talks place. The number of valance electrons in the both atoms is the notation of generating Lewis dot structure.

The number of valance electron in Silicon is four and in oxygen, it is six. Therefore, for filling octet Silicon needs four electrons and for the same reason each oxygen atoms needs two electrons. This is the reason for the atoms in undergoing the electrons sharing reaction with each other.

Therefore, Silicon hares it two electrons with one oxygen atom and other two valance electrons with another oxygen atom. Simultaneously, one oxygen atom shares tow electrons with Silicon and other one does the same.

In this way, Silicon gets four more electrons and two oxygen atoms get eight electrons in the valance shell. These sharing create double bonds between the elements. The bonds are considered as covalent bonds.

However, for making covalent bond the difference between electronegativity if two different elements should be under 1.8. In the case of Si and O, the difference is 1.7. This is an another driving force fir the element to generate covalent bonds with each other.

Lewis dot structure of Silicon disulphide

Silicon disulphide that is SiS2 is another compound, which is formed through electrons sharing method and explained by Lewis dot structure. This holds similar structure like and molecular shape like Silicon dioxide.

Sulphur holds the same electronic configuration like oxygen as they are in same group in periodic table. Therefore, for filling octet the element has same urge of two electrons as oxygen atoms. Therefore, for sharing two electrons with Silicon two sulphur atoms undergoes the electron-sharing process.

The urge of four electrons in Silicon drives it to share valance electrons with Sulphur ions as well. It creates covalent double bonds with each of Sulphides. It shows similar properties like SiO2.

Sulphur also undergoes this process to get the same electronic configuration like its nearest noble gas. Tetrahedral geometry and polymeric nature is denoted by the Lewis structure of this compound.

Lewis dot structure of Silicon carbide

Silicon carbide is the compound of Silicon and carbon. It has been identified that both the atom belongs to the same group in periodic table. Therefore, the urge of having four electrons to fill octet is same for both of them.

The Lewis dot structure shoes that the elements creates triple bonds between them. Carbon atom shares its three electrons with the Silicon atom and one Silicon atom shares it is there valance electrons with carbon and makes triple bond.

There is a twist in this structural formation. Carbon and silicon both lacks the octet stability as one of the valance electrons becomes lonely. Carbon gets a negative charge by holding a lonely electron but silicon is noticed to possess positive charge with it.

This concept is deliberately shared by Lewis dot structure of Silicon carbide. The chemical formula of the compound is SiC.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Question 1: Why the structural formation of SiC is different from other Si compounds?

Answer: As Silicon and Carbon are from same group in periodic table, there urge of electrons is quite same and they crate different type of compound with different properties.

Question 2: Why does Oxygen and Silicon create double bonds with each other?

Answer: Oxygen and Silicon shares two electrons with each other. This is the main reason for making double bonds holding four electrons in total.

Question 3: What is Carborundum?

Answer: Silicon carbide is called Carborundum. It is a hard compound with crystalline e structure.

Question 4: Give one justification behind making covalent bond for Silicon and oxygen.

Answer: The difference between electronegativity of Oxygen and Silicon is 1.7. It is required for any two element to have an electronegativity gap of <1.8. Therefore, very fluently the elements create covalent bonds with each other by sharing electrons.

Question 5: what is the nearest Noble gas of Silicon? Write its electronic configuration.

Answer: Argon is the nearest Noble gas of Silicon. The electronic configuration of this atom is 1s22s22p63s23p6 as it has 18 electrons in total.

Also, please click to learn about PI5 Lewis Structure and SO lewis structure.