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silicon [Si]
From the Latin silex meaning flint. Discovered in 1824 by Jons J Berzelius
Occurrence:
1) occurs combined with oxygen as silicon dioxide (SiO2)
2) second most abundant element on earth
3) makes up 25.7% of earth's crust
Characteristics:
1) tetravalent nonmetallic element
2) amorphous silicon is a brown powder
3) crystalline silicon is dark gray with a blue tinge
4) pure silicon is covered with a layer of SiO2, rendering it inert to air or water
Uses:
1) alloys
2) electronic devices
-> transistors & other solid-state devices
3) lasers
Related
periodic table
General
trace element
Properties
SIZE: AW = 28.086
atomic number
VALUE: 14
VALENCE: NE 3S2 3P2
Database Correlations
PUBCHEM correlations
References
- Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, Miriam-
Webster Inc. Springfield, MA 1990
- Chemical & Engineering News, Sept 8, 2003
Component-of
biotin/cysteine/silicon