Silicon (Si) – Periodic Table [Element Information & More]

Silicon element (Si) is in group 14 and period 3 of a periodic table. Silicon is in the p-block and it is classified as a metalloid on the periodic table.

There is a lot more information related to silicon which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.

So let’s dive right into it!

Table of contents

• Silicon element (Information Table)
• Silicon element in Periodic table
• Facts about Silicon
• Properties of Silicon
• Uses of Silicon

Silicon Element (Information Table)

The important data related to silicon element is given in the table below.

Appearance of silicon	Reflective solid with bluish-tinged surface
Atomic number of silicon	14
Symbol of silicon	Si
Atomic mass of silicon	28.085 u
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in silicon	Protons: 14, Neutrons: 14, Electrons: 14
State of silicon (at STP)	Solid
Group number of silicon in periodic table	14
Period number of silicon in periodic table	3
Block of silicon in periodic table	p-block
Category of silicon	Metalloids
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in silicon	2, 8, 4
Electron configuration of silicon	[Ne] 3s2 3p2
Orbital diagram of silicon
Valence electrons in silicon	4
Electronegativity of silicon (on pauling scale)	1.9
Atomic radius of silicon (van der Waals radius)	210 picometers
Density of silicon	2.33 g/cm3
1st ionization energy of silicon	8.152 eV
Main isotope of silicon	28Si
Melting point of silicon	1687 K or 1414 °C or 2577 °F
Boiling point of silicon	3538 K or 3265 °C or 5909 °F
Crystal structure of silicon	Diamond cubic
Discovery of silicon	By Jons Jacob Berzelius in 1823

Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).

Silicon element in Periodic table

The Silicon element (Si) has the atomic number 14 and is located in group 14 and period 3. Silicon is a metalloid and it is classified as a carbon group element.

Click on above elements in the periodic table to see their information.

Facts about silicon

Here are a few interesting facts about silicon element.

1. Silicon is the 2^nd most abundant element present in the earth’s crust. The first is oxygen.
2. Silicon is found from the earth’s crust as a compound with other elements.
3. Most of the compounds present in the earth’s crust contain silicon in it. Because of this reason, 27% of the earth’s crust is silicon.
4. Silicon is also present in the meteorites.
5. Silicon is a semiconductor and its electrical conductivity increases with the increase in temperature.
6. Silicon also helps in strengthening the plant cell wall.
7. Silicosis is a disease that occurs by inhaling silicon dust.

Properties of silicon

Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of silicon.

Physical properties of silicon

• Silicon is a solid metalloid having a shiny bluish-tinged surface.
• Silicon carbide (SiC) is a very hard material and its hardness is near to the hardness of diamond.
• Liquid silicon has higher density than solid silicon.
• The melting point and boiling point of silicon is 1414 °C and 3265 °C respectively.
• Out of all the isotopes of silicon, the stable isotope is ²⁸Si.

Chemical properties of silicon

• Silicon is a metalloid and hence its properties are similar to that of metals as well as nonmetals.
• Silicon is a metalloid and it can form compounds with metals as well as nonmetals.
• Silicon reacts with strong alkalis and forms silicates. During this reaction, the hydrogen gas is liberated.

Uses of silicon

Here are some uses of the silicon element.

• Because of the semiconducting properties of silicon, it is widely used in making solar cells, computer chips, and many other electronic devices.
• Silicon is used in making transistors and these transistors are used in many electronic devices from radio to iphones.
• Ceramics, glass and bricks contain silicon in it.
• Steel manufacturing plants also use silicon.
• Silicon carbide is very hard material and it is used in abrasives as well as cutting tools.

External resources:

1. Silicon – Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table. (n.d.). Silicon – Element Information, Properties and Uses | Periodic Table. https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/14/silicon
2. Periodic Table of Elements: Los Alamos National Laboratory. (n.d.). Periodic Table of Elements: Los Alamos National Laboratory. https://periodic.lanl.gov/14.shtml
3. Atomic Weight of Silicon | Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights. (n.d.). Atomic Weight of Silicon | Commission on Isotopic Abundances and Atomic Weights. https://ciaaw.org/silicon.htm
4. Atomic Data for Silicon (Si). (n.d.). Atomic Data for Silicon (Si). https://physics.nist.gov/PhysRefData/Handbook/Tables/silicontable1.htm
5. Silicon Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey. (n.d.). Silicon Statistics and Information | U.S. Geological Survey. https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/silicon-statistics-and-information
6. C&EN: IT’S ELEMENTAL: THE PERIODIC TABLE – SILICON. (n.d.). C&EN: IT’S ELEMENTAL: THE PERIODIC TABLE – SILICON. https://pubsapp.acs.org/cen/80th/silicon.html?
7. Silicon – Wikipedia. (2019, August 22). Silicon – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon
8. It’s Elemental – The Element Silicon. (n.d.). It’s Elemental – the Element Silicon. https://education.jlab.org/itselemental/ele014.html
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