The basic structural units of clay minerals composed:
- AA Silicon atom surrounded by four hydroxyl atoms
- BTwo silicon atoms surrounded by four oxygen atoms
- COne aluminium atom surrounded by six hydroxyl atomsCorrect
- DOne aluminium atom surrounded by six oxygen atoms
Solution
Concept
Octahedral and tetrahedral units
Step-by-step solution
1. The silica unit is one silicon atom surrounded by four oxygen atoms (tetrahedron). 2. The octahedral unit (gibbsite) is one aluminium atom surrounded by six hydroxyl ions. 3. Option C is the correct statement.
Explanation
Octahedral alumina sheet unit.
Why the other options are wrong
A, B and D describe the units incorrectly.
Shortcut
Al + 6 OH = gibbsite octahedron.
Correct answer: C) One aluminium atom surrounded by six hydroxyl atoms