SECOND CHAPTER OF THE CRYSTAL CHEMISTRY OF SILICATES

TL;DRAbstract

During the 1930's the effect of small cations on the crystal chemistry of silicates was studied, whereas current work is directed mostly toward the study of large cations. It has been established that such large cations play a more important role in defining the structure of the silicates than the silicic acid radicals because their radius determines the dimensions of the octahedral unit to which the Si-- O tetrahedral must be adapted. Silicates containing Zr, Ti, Ta, and Mn are discussed from the viewpoint of their effect on the rigid structure of the crystals formed. Condensation of Si--O chains into rings results in the formation of xonolite type materials with cementing properties. Their decomposition leads to the formation of the simple wollastonite type structure with loss of cementing strength. Quite surprisingly, lithium silicates also belong to this group since the lithium is able to be placed at the center of the tetrahedron like silicon, whereas in other cases it behaves lik

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