Silicates<span> are </span>minerals<span> that </span>contain silicon<span> atoms bonded to </span>oxygen<span> atoms. The basic building block for all </span>silicate minerals<span> is called a tetrahedron, where one</span>silicon<span> atom is bonded to 4 </span>oxygen<span> atoms. </span>Silicate minerals<span> also often </span>contain<span> other </span>elements<span>, such as calcium, iron, and magnesium.</span>
Silicate minerals are the important rock-forming minerals as they are highly abundant in the earth's crust. They are also found in large quantities in the mantle. It is comprised of both silicon and oxygen, where the four oxygen atoms are linked to a Silicon atom at the center, forming a covalent bond. The rocks formed from this mineral are very hard and resistant.
The minerals such as potassium feldspar, amphibole, and quartz are comprised of a large amount of silicate minerals.
Carbon forms the key component for all known life on Earth. Carbon is the basis of all molecules. Its is easily able to bond because of the 4 valence electrons.
Recall the endosymbiosis hypothesis and recall endosymbiosis. Remember that the very first cell was a prokaryotic cell. Which engulfed chloroplast precursors and mitochondria. We all come from these cells. And how we evolved over time shows the relationship. I'm a bio major hope I helped
