Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard and brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre; and it is a tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor. It is a member of group 14 in the periodic table: carbon is above it; and germanium, tin, and lead are below it. It is relatively unreactive. Because of its high chemical affinity for oxygen, it was not until 1817 that Jöns Jacob Berzelius was first able to prepare it and characterize it in pure form. Its melting and boiling points of 1414 °C and 3265 °C respectively are the second-highest among all the metalloids and nonmetals, being only surpassed by boron. Silicon is the eighth most common element in the universe by mass, but very rarely occurs as the pure element in the Earth's crust. It is most widely distributed in dusts, sands, planetoids, and planets as various forms of silicon dioxide (silica) or silicates.
Over 90% of the Earth's crust is composed of silicate minerals, making silicon the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust (after oxygen). Most silicon is used commercially without being separated, and often with little processing of the natural minerals. Such use includes industrial construction with clays, silica sand, and stone. Silicate is used in Portland cement for mortar and stucco Is silicon Si a metal? No, silicon is not a metal. It is a metalloid, meaning it has properties of both metals and non-metals. Is silicon si z 14 a metal? No, silicon is not a metal. It is a metalloid, meaning it has properties of both metals and non-metals. How many neutrons does silicon Si have? The number of neutrons in an element can be calculated by subtracting the number of protons from the total number of nucleons. For silicon, the number of nucleons is 28 and the number of protons is 14, so the number of neutrons is 28-14=14. Is silicone A plastic? No, silicone is not a plastic. It is a synthetic rubber which is created using a process that involves combining silicon with oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen.
Is silicon different from silicone?
Yes, silicon and silicone are different. Silicon is a naturally occurring element, while silicone is a manmade polymer. Silicon is found in silica, a main component of sand, while silicone is found in a variety of products, including sealants, lubricants and adhesives.