Silicon Facts
Silicon Facts
|
| Interesting Silicon Facts: |
|---|
| Jacob Berzelius is typically credited with discovering silicon in 1824. |
| It is the eighth most abundant element in the universe by weight. |
| It is almost never found as a pure free element naturally. |
| Silicon makes up slightly more than 27% of the Earth's crust. |
| Over 90% of the crust is made of silicate-containing minerals and compounds. |
| Most of the silicon on Earth is found in the form of silicon oxides like sand and quartz. |
| Silicon is found in abundance in many minerals. |
| It is vital for life in both plants and animals. |
| Freshwater and oceanic diatoms extract silicon from the water to build their cells walls. |
| Silicon is important for the production of steel. |
| One of the most important abrasives for industrial uses is made from silicon carbide. |
| Silicon is responsible for a dangerous lung disease called silicosis that can affect professionals who breathe silicon dust. |
| Silicon is used industrially with very little processing of its compounds. |
| Silicon has a higher density when it is in liquid form than when it is a solid. |
| It is a solid at room temperature. |
| Silicon has three stable isotopes, the most abundant being Si-28. |
| Silicon is the main element in many meteorites. |
| Most of the global silicon production goes into creating an alloy known as ferrosilicon, which contains iron. |
| Silicon in more refined form is used in electronics and semiconductors. |
| Only a handful of organisms on Earth have a biological need for silicon. |
|
Related Links: Facts Periodic Table Facts Animals Facts |