A remarkable silicon compound that chemists predicted would be too reactive to form a stable solid has been found, on the contrary, to survive harsh treatment. Its unusual feature is a silicon atom bonded to only two other atoms, instead of the usual four.
Silicon is in the same group of elements in the periodic table as carbon, which means that a silicon or carbon atom has four bonding electrons available. In a 'single' bond, the carbon or silicon atom contributes just one electron to the bond; it can therefore form single bonds with four neighbouring atoms.
In addition to forming single bonds, carbon can contribute two or even three of its electrons to bond with one of its neighbours in what are called 'double' or 'triple' bonds. However, silicon is too large to engage in double or triple bonds - or so chemical theory says.
Robert West and Michael ...
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