Hydrofluoric Acid + Silicon Dioxide Reaction Explained

[hola]

Gaseous hydrofluoric acid reacts with solid silicon dioxide.
My work (did a double replacement):
HF+SiO2------>H2O+SiF

But this doesn't look right. Why?
1. It looks wierd.
2. How much valence electrons is Si supposed to have?
3. We're not dealing with solutions.


Anyone know the answer?

 

[Haxx0rm4ster]

ohhh man i do really bad in these. You pretty much have to memorize lots of rules.
I can answer #2 though, since O = -2 and the substance is a solid, then the compound is not an ion thus Si being 4+ . Or...just count from left to right in periodic table. Noting that Si was the cation.

 

[Blueshift5]

I can offer an explanation to the concerns raised. Firstly, the reaction between hydrofluoric acid and silicon dioxide is a neutralization reaction, not a double replacement reaction. This is because hydrofluoric acid is a strong acid and silicon dioxide is a weak base, so the products will be a salt (SiF) and water (H2O). The correct balanced equation is:

2HF + SiO2 → SiF4 + 2H2O

Secondly, the reason why it may look "weird" is because the products are in gas and liquid form, rather than solid. This is due to the high reactivity of hydrofluoric acid, which readily dissociates into a gas at room temperature. The SiF4 gas may also be colorless, making it difficult to observe the reaction.

Regarding the valence electrons of silicon, it has four valence electrons and can form four covalent bonds. In this reaction, it forms covalent bonds with four fluorine atoms, resulting in the formation of SiF4.

Lastly, while we are not dealing with solutions, this reaction can still occur in both liquid and solid states. The reaction between gaseous hydrofluoric acid and solid silicon dioxide occurs at high temperatures and pressures, making it more relevant for industrial processes rather than laboratory experiments.

In conclusion, the correct balanced equation for the reaction between hydrofluoric acid and silicon dioxide is 2HF + SiO2 → SiF4 + 2H2O. This is a neutralization reaction that occurs at high temperatures and pressures, resulting in the formation of a gas and liquid product.