Si
Silicon
Atomic number: 14Mass: 28.085 uCategory: Metalloid
About Silicon
Silicon is a hard, brittle crystalline solid metalloid. It is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust (after oxygen). Silicon is the basis of the modern electronics industry — it is the key component of semiconductors.
Properties
Period
3
Group
14
Block
P
Category
Metalloid
Electronegativity
1.90 (Pauling)
Ionization Energy
786.5 kJ/mol
Melting Point
1687 K (1414°C)
Boiling Point
3538 K (3265°C)
Density
2.329 g/cm³
Oxidation States
-4, +4
Electron Configuration
1s² 2s² 2p⁶ 3s² 3p²
[Ne] 3s² 3p²
Shell 1:2e⁻
Shell 2:8e⁻
Shell 3:4e⁻
Real-World Uses
Semiconductor chips
Solar cells
Glass
Concrete
Computer processors
Fun Fact
The Silicon Valley is named after silicon because nearly all computer chips are made from it!