In the structure of silica , each silicon atom is vbonded to bow many oxygen atoms ?

Explanation

To determine how many oxygen atoms each silicon atom is bonded to in the structure of silica (SiO2), we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Silica Structure**: Silica, or silicon dioxide, has a specific three-dimensional structure. It is important to visualize how silicon and oxygen atoms are arranged in this compound.

2. **Identifying Silicon Atom**: In the structure of silica, each silicon (Si) atom is at the center of a tetrahedron. A tetrahedron is a geometric shape with four triangular faces.

3. **Bonding with Oxygen Atoms**: Each silicon atom forms bonds with four oxygen (O) atoms. This means that the silicon atom is at the center of the tetrahedron, while the four corners of the tetrahedron are occupied by the oxygen atoms.

4. **Conclusion**: Therefore, each silicon atom in silica is bonded to **4 oxygen atoms**.

### Final Answer:
Each silicon atom in the structure of silica is bonded to **4 oxygen atoms**.

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