Silicon Dioxide Bonding Question

[Reckoner]

As part of my holiday homework for chem, I have to write a up a prac report about the investigation of table salt, table sugar and sand (SiO₂). When explaining the bonding with the sand, I though it to be be non-polar and have a similar structure to that of CO₂, O=Si=O.

However, upon doing a little research, http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/group4/oxides.html and http://timedomaincvd.com/CVD_Fundamentals/films/SiO2_properties.htmlsay that there is no double bond between SI and O, and that it forms a tetrahedral structure with diagrams showing 4 oxygens to 1 Silicon?

I don't understand, is the second way even relevant?

Could someone please explain to me which bonding method is correct? I'm very confused       

[Nobby]

I think it's a tetrahedral network lattice, similar to diamond

[Aurelian]

I think it's a tetrahedral network lattice, similar to diamond

This.

[Reckoner]

Oh ok, so there is no real single SiO₂ molecule.

Thanks

[pi]

Oh ok, so there is no real single SiO₂ molecule.

Thats correct