Silicon (Si)
"The Digital Dynamo, the hero at the heart of all modern technology, processing information at lightning speed."
A memorable persona to anchor Si in your mind.
2.329
Grams per cm³
1414
Celsius (°C)
210
Radius (pm)
Daily Life Link
The computer chip in your phone, laptop, or gaming console.
Discovery & History
Year Discovered
1824
Discovered By
Jöns Jacob Berzelius
Origin of Name
"The name is derived from the Latin 'silex' or 'silicis', meaning flint."
Technical Properties
Atomic Mass
28.085 u
Standard State
solid
Boiling Point
3265°C
Electron Configuration
[Ne] 3s23p2
1st Ionization Energy
8.152 eV
Electron Affinity
N/A
Oxidation States
"A hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic luster."
Did You Know?
It is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust (after oxygen), making up over 28% of its mass.
Silicon is the essential component of most semiconductors, forming the basis of modern electronics and computer chips, leading to the name "Silicon Valley".
Quartz, one of the most common minerals on Earth, is a compound of silicon and oxygen (silicon dioxide).
Diatoms, a type of algae, build their intricate, glassy cell walls out of silica.