Hello there, everybody! Today, we take a look at an element that has made whatever you're reading this on possible. So let's begin!
If you are confused by any of these terms, go to the glossary!
Facts about silicon
Symbol: Si
Electron configuration: [Ne] 3s23p2
Atomic number: 14
Key isotopes: 28Si, 30Si
Relative atomic mass: 28.085
Melting point: 1414 °C
Boiling point: 3265 °C
Electronegativity: 1.90
1st ionisation energy: 786.518 kJ mol-1
Silicon is an extremely useful element to humans. It has a variety of uses, including alloys, silicones and electronics!
Silicones have many, many uses. For example, silicone oil is added to cosmetics and hair conditioner as a lubricant. Or silicone rubber, used in bathrooms, roofs, windows and pipes as a sealant to stop any water from leaking in or out.
Alloys, like ferro-silicon (iron-silicon) and aluminium-silicon are used to make a variety of tools, including dynamo and transformer plates, cylinder heads and engine blocks. They are also used to deoxidise steel.
And, of course, silicon has an extremely vital use in electronics. Hyperpure silicon is selectively and carefully doped with tiny amounts of gallium, boron, arsenic or phosphorus to alter its electrical properties. This is in turn used in the making of computer components that allow things like this blog to exist!
On its own, silicon poses no health risk to people. But some of its compounds can be quite dangerous (quite like how carbon has many toxic compounds too.) These include asbestos, a group of six minerals once prized for their uses in insulation but later found to be carcinogenic if the fibres are breathed in.
But anyway, that's all from me for today. I'll see you all next Sunday! Bye for now!
Electron configuration: [Ne] 3s23p2
Atomic number: 14
Key isotopes: 28Si, 30Si
Relative atomic mass: 28.085
Melting point: 1414 °C
Boiling point: 3265 °C
Electronegativity: 1.90
1st ionisation energy: 786.518 kJ mol-1
Silicon is an extremely useful element to humans. It has a variety of uses, including alloys, silicones and electronics!
Silicones have many, many uses. For example, silicone oil is added to cosmetics and hair conditioner as a lubricant. Or silicone rubber, used in bathrooms, roofs, windows and pipes as a sealant to stop any water from leaking in or out.
Alloys, like ferro-silicon (iron-silicon) and aluminium-silicon are used to make a variety of tools, including dynamo and transformer plates, cylinder heads and engine blocks. They are also used to deoxidise steel.
And, of course, silicon has an extremely vital use in electronics. Hyperpure silicon is selectively and carefully doped with tiny amounts of gallium, boron, arsenic or phosphorus to alter its electrical properties. This is in turn used in the making of computer components that allow things like this blog to exist!
On its own, silicon poses no health risk to people. But some of its compounds can be quite dangerous (quite like how carbon has many toxic compounds too.) These include asbestos, a group of six minerals once prized for their uses in insulation but later found to be carcinogenic if the fibres are breathed in.
But anyway, that's all from me for today. I'll see you all next Sunday! Bye for now!