Which mechanism allows silane (SiH4) to spontaneously ignite in air despite silicon's stable octet configuration?

💡 Explanation

When silane interacts with oxygen, the mechanism of autoignition is increased reactivity due to the relatively low-lying and accessible 3d orbitals of silicon, creating a favorable transition state with oxygen that weakens the Si-H bonds, despite it having a 'stable octet'. Therefore, the influence of Si 3d orbitals causing spontaneous ignition results, rather than sigma antibonding electron overlap, vibrational excitation or Si-H dissociation, which are either not primary factors, or of secondary effect or higher energy barrier.

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