Si

Question

has 4 valence electrons, Blank carbon. Therefore, silicon would be able to form Blank chains, including branches that could act as skeletons for Blank molecules. It would clearly do this much better than neon (with Blank valence electrons) or aluminum (with Blank valence electrons), both of which cannot form branched molecules.

Answer 1

Si (silicon) has 4 valence electrons, similar to carbon. Therefore, silicon would be able to form silicon chains, including branches that could act as skeletons for silicon-based molecules. It would clearly do this much better than neon (with 8 valence electrons) or aluminum (with 3 valence electrons), both of which cannot form branched molecules.