silicon
Sign in to saveSilicon (, ) is a chemical element; it has symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent non-metal (sometimes considered as a metalloid) and semiconductor. It is a member of group 14 in the periodic table: carbon is above it; and germanium, tin, lead, and flerovium are below it. It is relatively unreactive. Silicon is a significant element that is essential for several physiological and metabolic processes in plants. Silicon is widely used as a semiconductor material in various electrical devices such as transisto
AI overview
Silicon is a hard, brittle chemical element with a blue-grey metallic appearance that acts as a semiconductor, making it essential for electrical devices like transistors. It is also an important element for plant growth and plays a role in various biological processes.
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Article
27 sectionsContents
- History
- Discovery
- Silicon semiconductors
- Silicon Age
- Characteristics
- Physical and atomic
- Electrical
- Crystal structure
- Isotopes
- Chemistry and compounds
- Occurrence
- Production
- Applications
- Compounds
- Alloys
- Electronics
- Quantum dots
- Thermal energy storage
- Biological role
- Marine microbial influences
- Human nutrition
- Safety
- See also
- Notes
- References
- Bibliography
- External links
Silicon (, ) is a chemical element; it has symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent non-metal (sometimes considered as a metalloid) and semiconductor. It is a member of group 14 in the periodic table: carbon is above it; and germanium, tin, lead, and flerovium are below it. It is relatively unreactive. Silicon is a significant element that is essential for several physiological and metabolic processes in plants. Silicon is widely used as a semiconductor material in various electrical devices such as transistors, solar cells, and integrated circuits. It dominates semiconductor applications due to its low cost, excellent electronic properties, and adaptable physical characteristics.
Because of its high chemical affinity for oxygen, it was not until 1823 that Jöns Jakob Berzelius was first able to prepare it and characterize it in pure form. Its oxides form a family of anions known as silicates. Its melting and boiling points of 1414 °C and 3265 °C, respectively, are the second highest among all the metalloids and nonmetals, being surpassed only by boron.