Here's why:
* Silicon and Oxygen: Silicon and oxygen are both nonmetals.
* Sharing Electrons: Nonmetals tend to form covalent bonds by sharing electrons to achieve a stable electron configuration.
* Strong Bonds: The covalent bonds in silicon dioxide are very strong, resulting in its high melting point and hardness.
Specifically, each silicon atom forms four covalent bonds with four oxygen atoms, and each oxygen atom forms two covalent bonds with two silicon atoms. This arrangement creates a three-dimensional network structure, which contributes to the strength and rigidity of silica.
