What Is Silicon?
QUICK ANSWER
Silicon is a chemical element with atomic number 14 and the symbol Si. It's a metalloid with both metallic and non-metallic properties, second only to oxygen in abundance in Earth's crust. Silicon is the foundation of modern electronics, used in computer chips, solar panels, and glass throughout the modern world.
Silicon is the element that built the modern world. Computer chips, solar panels, glass, concrete, and countless other materials all depend on silicon in some form. Silicon Valley is named after it, and the entire semiconductor industry exists because silicon has just the right electronic properties to make transistors work. Most people walking around carrying smartphones don't realize how much silicon is in their pockets.
Where is silicon on the periodic table?
Silicon has atomic number 14, the symbol Si, and sits in group 14 of the periodic table, just below carbon. It's a metalloid, meaning it has properties of both metals and non-metals. Three stable isotopes exist (Si-28, Si-29, Si-30), with Si-28 being most common at 92%. Silicon was first isolated in pure form in 1824 by Jöns Jakob Berzelius. The element makes up about 28% of Earth's crust by mass, second only to oxygen, mostly as silicates and silicon dioxide (silica), the main component of sand and quartz worldwide.
What are the properties of silicon?
Silicon is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-gray metallic luster. Its melting point is 1,414°C and its density is 2.33 g/cm³. Silicon is a semiconductor, meaning its electrical conductivity can be controlled precisely by adding tiny amounts of other elements (called doping). This property is what makes silicon so important for electronics. Silicon doesn't react with water and is stable in air at room temperature. It does react with halogens and dilute alkalis but resists most acids except hydrofluoric acid, which can dissolve it readily.
What is silicon used for?
Computer chips and integrated circuits use ultrapure single-crystal silicon as their base material. Solar panels use silicon to convert sunlight into electricity. Glass, of course, is largely silicon dioxide melted and shaped. Silicone (with an 'e') is a synthetic polymer family used in sealants, lubricants, cosmetics, and medical implants. Concrete contains silicate compounds. Silicon carbide is used in abrasives, ceramics, and high-performance electronics. Silicon alloyed with iron makes electrical steel for transformers. Without silicon, the digital age would not exist.
Silicon vs silicone: what's the difference?
Silicon (with an 'i') is the chemical element, the gray metalloid used in electronics and the second most abundant element in Earth's crust. Silicone (with an 'e') is a polymer made by combining silicon with oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen into long flexible chains. Silicone is the rubbery synthetic material used in baking molds, cooking utensils, medical implants, sealants, and cosmetics. The two words are constantly confused, but they refer to fundamentally different things: silicon is a pure element, while silicone is a man-made synthetic compound.
Silicon is the element that runs the digital age. From the chips in your phone to the panels on your roof, silicon's combination of abundance and just-right electronic properties made the entire computer revolution possible. Almost everything modern technology touches has silicon in it somewhere.
More Chemistry Elements Questions
Mystery Question?
Mystery Question?
Mystery Question?