Editing Silicate (section)

===Chains===
[[File:Silicate-single-chain-plan-view-2D.png|thumb|Depiction of a metasilicate chain, emphasizing the tetrahedral silicate subunits.]]
[[File:Na2SiO3idealized.png|thumb|right|220 px|Alternative depiction of a metasilicate chain emphasizing the Si-O bonds.]]
With two shared oxides bound to each silicon, cyclic or polymeric structures can result.  The cyclic [[metasilicate]] ring {{chem|Si|6|O|18|12−}} is a [[hexamer]] of SiO<sub>3</sub><sup>2-</sup>.  [[Polymer]]ic silicate anions of can exist also as long chains.

In single-chain silicates, which are a type of [[inosilicate]], tetrahedra link to form a chain by sharing two oxygen atoms each. A common mineral in this group is [[pyroxene]].

[[File:Silicate-double-chain-plan-view-2D.png|thumb|alt=Double chain tetrahedra.|Double chain tetrahedra.]]
Double-chain silicates, the other category of inosilicates, occur when tetrahedra form a double chain (not always but mostly) by sharing two or three oxygen atoms each. Common minerals for this group are [[amphiboles]].