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amorphous silica, sio2, has a density of about 2.2 g/cm3, whereas the density of crystalline quartz, another form of sio2, is 2.65 g/cm3 . which of the following statements is the best explanation for the difference in density?

User Mpontillo
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1 Answer

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11 votes

Answer:

Step-by-step explanation:

E. The atoms in amorphous silica do not pack as efficiently in three dimensions as compared to the atoms in quartz.

Step-by-step explanation:

Quartz is a crystalline structure with a lattice which is very compact and produces flat faces that align with one another causing high density.

Silica has covalent bonding and forms a network structure. Silica, SiO2 is an amorphous solid and does not posses the same lattice or crystalline structure as Quartz, making it less dense.

User Alex Weavers
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