Silicon - The most useful element

This is Silicon

Photo Credic: periodic table

Atomic Number: 14
Relative Mass: 28
Group: 14
Period: 3
Block: P

Symbol: Si

Silicon (Seen in photo: left) is a non-metal which makes up 27.7% of the Earth's crust (by it's mass) and is the second most abundant element - after Oxygen. When in it's ulta-pure state, Silicon is a solid with a blue-grey metallic sheen. But Silicon doesn't usually occur as a pure element. It is normally found as an Oxide (Silica) or as silicates.

Some forms of silica which you might know are - Sand, rock crystal, Opal, flint as well as quarts

Some forms of silicates which you might know are - Asbestos, Granite, clay as well as mica

The way that we make elemental silicon is to reduce sand with carbon in an electric furnance.

The name of silicon comes from the latin word Silex or Silicis which meant flint. This makes sense as the compound Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) was one of the first tools used by humans as sharp flint. Not the only anicent use. Turning sand into glass and using rock crystals. Although, chemists had surpising little interest in the element.

The Discovery of Silicon 

Photo Credit: Science History

Silicon was first found and isolated in the year 1824 by the swedish chemist - Jon Jacob Berzelius (Seen in photo: left). He isolated the element by heating potassium flurosilicate with more potassium. The product of this reaction was a compound named protassium silicide. It wasn't the pure silicon that Jon Berzelius wanted. Yet, he wasn't finished. The potassium silicide was stirred in water. It reacts to form a powder - pure silicon!

But, he wasn't the only person attempting this task. Jon Jacob Berzelius isolated it. Chemists attempted to reduce Silica by the method electroylsis which failed. In 1811, two other chemists - Joseph Gay Lussac and Louis Jacques Thenard, reacted silicon tetrachloride with potassium metal. It produced an impure from of silicon.

Biological Uses

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Silicon is very important for plant life. Phytoliths are tiny particles of silica which form is some plants. Phytolith does not rot so it is found within fossils and therefore, it provides us with evolutionary evidence.

Silicon is non-toxic. Though some silicates like asbestos can be carcinogenic. People who have worked in roles such as miners or stonecutters, can develop serious lung disease if they have been exposed to siliceous dust.

It's Uses

Silicon is one of the most useful elements for mankind.

• Most of the silicon is used to make alloys with metals. In particular, aluminium silicon and ferro-silicon (Iron). These alloys are used to make engine blocks, cyclinder heads and is used to deoxide steel
• Silicon is combined with Oxygen and methly groups (CH₃) to make silicone. It's added to cosmetics and hair conditioners. 
• Silicone rubber is used as sealant in bathrooms.
• Silicon is a semiconductor in solid-state devices in computers and microelectronic industry. Hyper-pure silicon is needed for this. 
• Granite is a complex silcon rock. These are used in civil engineering projects. Sand (Silicate) and Clay (Aluminium Silicate) are used to make concrete. Sand is needed for glass works.