Available online
Description
The programme shows how the application of geometry to the field of chemistry is used to work out the various possible structures of the silicates.
The programme shows how the application of geometry to the field of chemistry is used to work out the various possible structures of the silicates.
| Module code and title: | TM361, "Graphs, networks and design" |
|---|---|
| Item code: | TM361; 13 |
| First transmission date: | 02-09-1981 |
| Published: | 1981 |
| Rights Statement: | |
| Restrictions on use: | |
| Duration: | 00:24:02 |
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| Producer: | Ted Smith |
| Contributors: | Roy Nelson; Joe Rooney |
| Publisher: | BBC Open University |
| Keyword(s): | Geometry; Ring; Silicate; Tetrahedra |
| Footage description: | Joe Rooney introduces the programme.He briefly outlines the extent to which silicates are found in nature and in artefacts. Shots of a digital watch, an hour glass, a clay pipe talcum powder and a radio condenser. Roy Nelson uses a ball and stick model of a silicate ion to illustrate the basic arrangement and bonds of the silicates. He points out that silicates can form themselves into large and extremely complex structures. Nelson shows a model of pyroxene to illustrate his point. In order to make sense of complicated silicate structures, Joe Rooney, with the aid of models, points out the tetrahedral structure of the silicate ion SiO4. This is the basic building block of all the silicates. He goes on to look at models of some of the arrangments of tetrahedra which can occur. The free bonds of the silicate tetrahedra are pointed out by Roy Nelson. He goes on to explain how these free bonds allow a variety of configurations for silicates. One, two and three dimensional models are shown and the chemical formulas for each are captioned. So that some order can be put into the infinite nurber of theoretically possible silicate configurations, Joe Rooney comes up with a classification scheme. He shows models and the minerals counterparts of silicates for each of the first three groups of his classification scheme. Roy Nelson goes on to look at models and samples of silicates from the final two groups of the classification scheme. Joe Rooney summarises the programme. |
| Production number: | FOUT089T |
| Videofinder number: | 1534 |
| Available to public: | no |
