14 Si Silicon
Metalloid, mass: 28.085 u, 3 stable isotopes (28, 29, 30), abundance rank (earth/space): 2/8Click image to magnify. Ultrapure silicon chunks. Original size in cm: 2 x 2


The metalloid silicon is a very abundant element. Much of the earth's crust is made out of silicates and silica (SiO2). The latter is the chief ingredient of quartz and sand and is used as raw material for glass since ages. Elemental silicon is an important industrial material, where it is used in huge amounts for semiconductors, computer chips, in electronics, for solar energy and photovoltaics.


Left: Polycrystalline silicon in solar cells for power generation (photovoltaics).
Right: Monocrystalline silicon in solar cells.


Left: Pure silicon, rough surface, 2 grams, size 2 cm.
Right: Quartz sand, largely SiO2.

Silica gel, amorphous SiO2 with a large, inner surface, is strongly hygroscopic and therefore is used as desiccant. Bead size approx. 2 mm.
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Page last changed on March 05. 2016
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