Both CO₂ and SiO₂ Appear to Have Valid Lewis Structures

question 20

Multiple Choice

Both CO₂ and SiO₂ appear to have valid Lewis structures.Using the molecular orbital model,why then are CO₂ molecules stable and SiO₂ molecules not stable?

• A)CO₂ is able to form sigma bonds and SiO₂ is not.
• B)The silicon 3p valence orbitals do not overlap very effectively with the smaller oxygen 2p orbitals.
• C)The carbon atom is larger than the silicon atom,giving carbon a higher electron density and thus better pi bonding.
• D)Silicon prefers to bond to other silicon atoms over oxygen atoms.
• E)At least two of the above are correct.

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