How to Sketch the Structure of the Silicon-Oxygen Tetrahedron
The silicon-oxygen molecule is crystalline in shape. It is a chemical bond that follows the polygonal shape called a tetrahedron. A tetrahedron is a three-dimensional triangle. It has four sides made of the same sized triangle. The equal lengths of the bond make the structure very strong. Silicon-oxygen is a common substance on earth. It is a mineral that comprises rocks, sand, mountains and pebbles; there are silicon-oxygen tetrahedron in 90 percent of the Earth's crust.
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Instructions
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1
Draw a horizontal line about 3 inches long. This is the far edge of your tetrahedron.
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2
Draw two medium size circles at either end. These are two of the four oxygen molecules.
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3
Sketch a small circle about 1/4 inch above the center of the line. Color it in. This is the silicon molecule.
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4
Draw a medium sized circle about 2 inches above the line, just right of center. This the third of four oxygen molecules.
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5
Draw another medium sized circle about 1 inch below the line, directly under the previous circle you made. This is the last oxygen molecule.
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6
Connect these two circles with a line. This is the leading edge of your tetrahedron.
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7
Draw two lines to connect the top oxygen molecule to the circle on the left and also the circle on the right.
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8
Connect the bottom circle with two lines as well, one to the circle on the left and one to the circle on the right.
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9
Connect the small silicate molecule to each oxygen molecule with a squiggly line to show the chemical bond.
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10
Make the three dimensions more clear by lightly shading the triangle created by the horizontal line and the bottom circle.
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