It is possible to find a drawing of the silicon (Si) atom online at http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/si.html#structure. It has three energy levels with two electrons on the first energy level, eight electrons on the second energy level and four electrons on the third energy level. The chemical has an atomic number of 14 and the nucleus contains 14 protons and 14 neutrons. It has a standard atomic weight of 28.0855 (3) amu.
Silicon is the most common metalloid, more specifically it is a tetravalent metalloid. This means that it is less reactive than its chemical analog carbon. In terms of mass, silicon is the eighth most common element that is found in the entire universe. However, it rarely occurs in nature as the pure free element. Typically silicon is distributed in sands, planetoids, dusts and planets in the form of silicon dioxide or silicates. Within the Earth's crust the second most abundant element (after oxygen) is silicon and, in terms of mass, it makes up 27.7%of the crust.
Silicon has a number of different industrial uses that vary from microchips to semiconductor devices. It is used commonly as the latter because even at high temperatures it will remain as a semiconductor. It will do so at much higher temperatures than germanium due to the fact that its native oxide is easily grown in a furnace. When the element is found in silica and silicate form, it can be used to make cements, ceramics and glasses. Silicon should not be confused with silicone which is a class name given to a variety of substances made up of silicon, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The element silicon is also important within biology. While animals do not need more than small traces of it, plants use a silicic acid to create protective shells.
Silicon is the most common metalloid, more specifically it is a tetravalent metalloid. This means that it is less reactive than its chemical analog carbon. In terms of mass, silicon is the eighth most common element that is found in the entire universe. However, it rarely occurs in nature as the pure free element. Typically silicon is distributed in sands, planetoids, dusts and planets in the form of silicon dioxide or silicates. Within the Earth's crust the second most abundant element (after oxygen) is silicon and, in terms of mass, it makes up 27.7%of the crust.
Silicon has a number of different industrial uses that vary from microchips to semiconductor devices. It is used commonly as the latter because even at high temperatures it will remain as a semiconductor. It will do so at much higher temperatures than germanium due to the fact that its native oxide is easily grown in a furnace. When the element is found in silica and silicate form, it can be used to make cements, ceramics and glasses. Silicon should not be confused with silicone which is a class name given to a variety of substances made up of silicon, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. The element silicon is also important within biology. While animals do not need more than small traces of it, plants use a silicic acid to create protective shells.
