Simple Facts About Silicon
From computer chips to implants.
Silicon is an element on the periodic table. The element has the symbol “Si” and has the atomic number 14. Silicon takes up the second highest amount of the Earth’s crust, 25.7%. It is found in the sun and the stars and makes up a class of meteorites, the aerolites. The element is found as oxides and sand such as quartz, amethyst, rock crystal, agate, opal, flint, and jasper. Minerals including asbestos, feldspar, clay and mica can also carry silicon.
Silicon has many important uses, to man. It can be used to make concrete and bricks when it takes the form of sand and clay. When silicon is in its silica form, it can be used for producing enamels and pottery. Another important product of silicon is glass, which is made when it’s in silica form. Other uses for silicon are the need of it in electronic devices. These devices include transistors, rectifiers, solar cells, and many other devices that are used in the space industries. Also, silicon is proving to be more useful in helping to convert solar energy into electricity. More uses of silica are located in living things such as ashes of plants and the human skeleton. In addition, silicon is one of the main ingredients of steel.
Silicon, as crystalline, has a grayish color and has a metallic luster. According to http://periodic.lanl.gov/elements/14.html, “Silicon is a relatively inert element, but it is attacked by halogens and dilute alkali. Most acids, except hydrofluoric, do not affect it. Elemental silicon transmits more than 95% of all wavelengths of infrared, from 1.3 to 6.y micro-m.”
This University of California website states that regular grade silicon (99%) costs about $0.50/g. Silicon 99.9% pure costs about $50/lb; hyperpure silicon may cost as much as $100/oz. Therefore, the cost of silicon is not cheap.
Though silicon is very useful, workers around the silicaceous dust may inhale it and develop the lung disease, silicosis.
A one end product of silicon is computer chips. These chips are very important for computers because they are the processors. Without these silicon chips, our computers would have no processors and these processors are what helps the computer to stay on task. If our computers don’t stay on task, we would lose contact to the internet, a source of information for many people.
I know for sure that without Internet, people would be lost in the world, so silicon computer chips are very important in keeping our computers alive. Though, in my opinion, these silicon chips are both a luxury and a need. People can live without computers, but with so many advancements in technology these days, it is almost a necessity to have a computer in your home. These chips keep people up to date with technology, although, they are not absolutely needed in life. Given that computers are almost a necessity in life nowadays, I would say that the cost of silicon is effective. I believe in the quote, “You pay for what you get,” and you are basically getting a computer with the silicon chip. The only other replacement to silicon seems to be germanium which appears to have a higher mobility than silicon.
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31 Responses to “Simple Facts About Silicon”
On February 7, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Implants?!?!
Is this the same thing they use?!
On March 16, 2008 at 11:30 am
So I have Silicon in my computer? Haha, that’s cool.
On April 21, 2008 at 8:11 am
This really helped me out on my science research paper! Thanx 2 whoever wrote up this info page!
On June 1, 2008 at 2:48 pm
me too! my science report about elements is due tommorrow and this helped ALOT! thanks so much
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On October 9, 2008 at 10:50 am
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On October 25, 2008 at 6:10 pm
awesome! this is really gonna help me in science class!
On November 2, 2008 at 6:36 pm
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On November 2, 2008 at 6:41 pm
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On November 21, 2008 at 9:17 am
Thanks, it helped me with my science project.
On November 21, 2008 at 9:19 am
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On November 21, 2008 at 11:42 am
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On November 21, 2008 at 11:44 am
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On December 9, 2008 at 8:33 am
THIS IS THE BEST! Thxs so much to whoeva wrote this….i have a big project due in on science about the perodic table of elements and i have to research on Silicon…THXS!!!
On December 10, 2008 at 4:00 pm
science report mainly on silicon is finally done thnx alot
On March 8, 2009 at 4:01 pm
aww thank you so much! I also have a science project due tomorrow, and I just started hahaha. this helped alot (:
On March 19, 2009 at 10:54 pm
omg..thank u
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thanks.
On March 31, 2009 at 6:08 pm
Thank you to whoever wrote this,it was very useful in my research about silicon and I will finally survive this wave of homework.
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On April 29, 2009 at 1:04 pm
i dont pay attention in science class,
so i am bored playing games,
peace:D
On August 31, 2009 at 8:13 pm
This helped ALOT, same as those kids up there.. Chemistry project due tomorrw. Total life saver.
So Thanks!
On September 22, 2009 at 10:59 am
This Website Is So Cool And Helpful!Good Luck Guys
My Projects Due October 1st!THX SO MUCH WHOEVER CREATED THIS SITE!
On October 21, 2009 at 6:33 pm
hey this helped me alot thanks\\
On October 26, 2009 at 12:37 pm
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On October 26, 2009 at 1:02 pm
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On November 5, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Thanxx!
On November 5, 2009 at 9:27 pm
this is a kool website. it helped out on my report alot !!!!!!!!! = D
On November 8, 2009 at 7:37 pm
thanxz again awsome website
On November 28, 2009 at 8:36 pm
omg thankx it help me for my science project (wow awsome website)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On January 30, 2010 at 7:56 pm
thanks this helped me i got a huge 60 fact project thing on silicon worth like 100 points!
On February 17, 2010 at 8:41 pm
omg!!! i had 2 weeks to do this project about this junk and i didnt do it and so now i have to and its due in the morning thanks so much dude!!!!
On February 27, 2010 at 12:56 pm
thx a bunch i have a sience project on a element so i piked this one im glad i did!!!!!!!
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