* One silicon atom (Si) at the center
* Four oxygen atoms (O) surrounding the silicon atom, forming the corners of the tetrahedron.
The silicon atom is in the center, bonded to the four oxygen atoms through covalent bonds. Each oxygen atom can also bond to another silicon atom, forming chains, sheets, or three-dimensional frameworks.
This fundamental building block gives silicate minerals their distinctive properties and forms the basis for the diverse range of silicate minerals we see.
