Final answer:
Independent or isolated silicate tetrahedra, also known as neosilicates, are compounds that contain silicon-oxygen bonds. The tetrahedra are arranged and linked together in various ways, forming rings, sheets, or three-dimensional networks.
Step-by-step explanation:
In silicate minerals, the independent or isolated silicate tetrahedra, also known as neosilicates, are compounds that contain silicon-oxygen bonds. The tetrahedra are arranged and linked together in various ways, forming rings, sheets, or three-dimensional networks. The variation in the silicon-to-oxygen ratio occurs because the tetrahedra may exist as discrete, independent units or share oxygen atoms at corners.
For example, quartz is a three-dimensional network structure formed by the arrangement of silica tetrahedra. Each silica tetrahedron consists of one silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms, resulting in a net charge of -4.