What is the most desirable oxidation state of silicon as an atom?

1 Answer
Jan 14, 2016

Well it is probably as quartz, SiO_2.

Explanation:

So what is the oxidation state of silicon in quartz? Clearly it is +IV. Its Group 4 congener, C, forms carbon dioxide, CO_2, whose sublimation point is -78 ""^@C. Silicon dioxide has a boiling point of 2950 ""^@C. How do you account for this difference?