Silicon (Si)
| Atomic Number | 14 |
|---|---|
| Atomic Mass | 28.085 u |
| Category | Metalloid |
| Electron Config | [Ne] 3s² 3p² |
| Appearance | crystalline, reflective with bluish-tinged faces |
| Density (STP) | 2330 g/L |
| Melting Point | 1687 K |
| Boiling Point | 3538 K |
| Electronegativity | 1.9 (Pauling) |
| Ionization Energy | 786.5 kJ/mol |
| Atomic Radius | 110 pm |
| Crystal Structure | Tetrahedral Packing |
| Discovered By | Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1824) |
Brief Introduction
Silicon (Si) is a hard, brittle crystalline metalloid with a blue-gray metallic luster. It is the second most abundant element in Earth's crust and is the foundation of modern electronics and computer technology. Key details about Silicon (Si) are as follows:
Uses: Dominates semiconductor industry (computer chips, solar cells, transistors), used in silicone polymers (lubricants, sealants, medical implants), glass and ceramics production, and in aluminum and steel alloys. High-purity silicon is critical for photovoltaics.
Production/Extraction: Produced by reducing quartz (SiO₂) with carbon in electric arc furnaces to create metallurgical-grade silicon. Further refined through chemical purification (Siemens process) or zone refining for semiconductor and solar applications requiring extreme purity (99.9999999%+).
History: Identified as an element by Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1824, though first isolated by Humphry Davy in 1800. Named from Latin "silex" (flint). The transistor revolution (1947) and integrated circuit invention (1958) transformed silicon into the foundation of the digital age.
Health Effects & Safety: Silicon dust (especially crystalline silica) causes silicosis, a serious lung disease from occupational exposure. Elemental silicon is non-toxic. Silicon is essential for some organisms (diatoms, sponges) and possibly plays a role in human bone health.
Price/Market: Metallurgical-grade silicon is relatively inexpensive; semiconductor and solar-grade silicon command premium prices. Market driven by electronics and renewable energy sectors.
Properties: Semiconductor properties (conductivity between metals and insulators), four valence electrons enable versatile bonding, brittle at room temperature, forms strong covalent bonds, and exists in amorphous and crystalline forms.
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