- #1
Loren Booda
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What is the relationship, if any other than homophony, between silicon and silicone?
Originally posted by HazZy
silicone is a polymer of alternating Si and O bonds.
Originally posted by HazZy
well yeah of course, except it doesn't need to be methyl groups.
Originally posted by HazZy
it's clear when you look at the valence of silicon and what's sitting right above it in the periodic table. however it's not 1/10 as versatile or abundant as carbon, which is why we don't see silicon based life anywhere around here .
i was just saying that it's clear that silicone is not simply Si-O-Si-O..., which is what i said in the first reply. i never said "it's clear by the valence that silicone needs a methyl or some other alkyl group". please don't put words in my mouth...Originally posted by Chemicalsuperfreak
It's clear by the valence that silicone needs a methyl or some other alkyl group? Wow, I didn't know that, and I'm an organic chemist. And I guess I should toss my geology notes, because they say silicon is a far more abundant element than carbon.
Actually, you don't see them because they move slowly and are very clever.Originally posted by HazZy
it's clear when you look at the valence of silicon and what's sitting right above it in the periodic table. however it's not 1/10 as versatile or abundant as carbon, which is why we don't see silicon based life anywhere around here .