Answer:
C. two atoms of oxygen.
Explanation:
Step 1: Data given
Silicon has 14 electrons
Silicon is part of Group IV, all the elements there have 4 valence electrons.
It can form a compound when 4 valence electrons bind with the 4 valence elctrons of silicon
A. four atoms of calcium.
Calcium has 2 valence elctrons. 4 atoms of calcium cannot bind on 1 atom of silicon since there are only 4 valence electrons.
B. one atom of chlorine.
1 atom of chlorine has 7 valence electrons. Chlorine can bind with an atom with 1 valence electron. Since silicon has 4 valence electrons, they will not bind.
Silicon can bind with 4 atoms of chlorine to form SiCl4
C. two atoms of oxygen.
Oxygen has 6 valence electrons, this means oxygen can bind with an element with 2 valence electrons.
Since silicon has 4 valence electrons, it can bind with 2 atoms of oxygen to form SiO2 (silicon dioxide).
D. three atoms of hydrogen.
Hydrogen has 1 valence electron. 1 hydrogen atom can bind with an element that has 7 valence electrons.
Three atoms of hydrogen can bind with an element that has 5 valence electrons.
Silicon will not bind with 3 atoms of hydrogen ( but can bind with 4 atoms of hydrogen)
