Origin of Name
The name “silicon” originates from the Latin words “silex” and “silicis", meaning "flint" and "hard stone" respectively. Eventually, it was called "silicum" in English. At the time, boron and carbon were discovered, and to make its name similar, its name turned into "silicon".
Symbol
Silicon’s symbol, Si, comes from the first two letters of both the Latin and English spelling of silicon. S was not used because sulfur already used it.
Discovery
The first known “discovery” of silicon was from Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist who recognized silicon’s presence in quartz (silica, SiO2) in 1787-1789. He suspected that quartz was an oxide for a new element, but was unable to isolate silicon due to its extremely strong bonds with oxygen and lack of advanced chemical techniques.
The person credited for discovering silicon was Jöns Jacob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist. In 1823 in Stockholm, Sweden, he successfully isolated silicon by heating potassium fluorosilicate (K₂SiF₆) with molten potassium metal. Then, the products were treated with water, leaving a brown powder of amorphous silicon, which was purified by repeatedly washing it. Berzelius identified the silicon as a new element and published his findings in 1824.
Atomic Info
Atomic Number
Silicon’s atomic number is 14.
Mass
Silicon has a mass of 28.1.
Ion Charge
Silicon most commonly has an oxidation state of +4. An oxidation state is a way of keeping track of how many electrons an atom appears to gain or lose in a compound, by pretending the bonds are ionic instead of covalent. For silicon, this means we pretend that it has given away 4 electrons, even though in reality those 4 electrons are shared with other atoms.
Common Isotopes
Silicon has 3 common isotopes: silicon-28 (92.23%), silicon-29 (4.67%), and silicon-30 (3.10%).
Physical Properties (at STP)
Melting Point
1414°C
Boiling Point
3265°C
State
Solid
Crystal Structure
Diamond cubic lattice
Colour
Bluish-grey, shiny metallic-looking surface
Other Properties
Density
2.3296 g/cm³
Lustre
Bluish-grey metallic lustre
Reactivity
Relatively unreactive at STP; reacts slowly with oxygen to form a protective silicon dioxide layer.
Electrical Conductivity
4.5 × 10⁻⁴ S/m (intrinsic (pure) silicon at room temperature; conductivity increases greatly when doped (mixed with other elements))
Thermal Conductivity
150 W/m·K
Hardness
7 on the Mohs scale
Uses
Semiconductors and Electronics
Silicon is used in semiconductors and electronics because silicon itself is a semiconductor, and it has just the right electrical properties to control electricity flow precisely, which is perfect for electronics like computer chips. Silicon also has a stable crystal structure, high heat resistance, and efficient heat dissipation which makes it great for electronics.
I chose to make a website for this project because silicon was a main component in computers; there is silicon in the device you are using to view this website!
Solar Energy
Silicon is used in solar energy technology because silicon is a semiconductor, plentiful, cost-effective, and has a stable crystal structure that allows efficient sunlight conversion into energy.
Building Materials
Silicon is used in building materials because it forms strong compounds, like silica (sand) and silicates (quartz), which is used often in construction. These compounds are hard and durable, making them great for concrete, glass, and bricks. Silicon is also abundant, making it easier to make more building materials.
Alloys and Metals
Silicon is used in alloys and metals because it strengthens the metals it is bonding with and increases its corrosion resistance. It combines well with metals like aluminum and iron, and it is also used because it is inexpensive and effective.
Silicone Products
Silicon is used in silicone (silicon-based polymers) products because it forms silicones that are flexible, water-resistant, durable, heat-resistant, and safe for medical and household use. Unlike other polymers, the way silicones form are very different by combining organic and inorganic groups, giving them distinctive properties.
Works Cited
- Colwell, B. D. (2025, June 27). A History Of Silicon - Brian D. Colwell. Brian D. Colwell. https://www.briandcolwell.com/a-history-of-silicon/
- Donovan, A. L. (2019). Antoine Lavoisier | Biography, Discoveries, & Facts. In Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Antoine-Lavoisier
- Element: Silicon. (2019). Periodic Table. https://pse-info.de/en/element/Si
- Kumar, S. (2023, December 23). 12 Uses Of Silicon In Different Industries. Performance Resil. https://www.resilsilicones.com/blogs/news/12-uses-of-silicon-in-different-industries
- Royal Society of Chemistry. (2017). Silicon - Element information, properties and uses | Periodic Table. Rsc.org. https://periodic-table.rsc.org/element/14/silicon
- Silicon 101: Introduction to silicon (1/3) | Magazine. (2023). Magazine; Elkem.com. https://magazine.elkem.com/material-science-insights/silicon-101-introduction-to-silicon/
- Targets, S. S. (2018, December 26). How was Silicon discovered? | History of Silicon. SAM Sputter Targets. http://www.sputtering-targets.net/blog/how-was-silicon-discovered-history-of-silicon/
- Tikkanen, A. (2019). silicon | Properties, Uses, Symbol, & Facts. In Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/silicon
- USGS -- Isotope Tracers -- Resources. (n.d.). Wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov. https://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/isoig/period/si_iig.html
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2019a, March 29). Silicon. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon
- Wikipedia Contributors. (2019b, May 5). Jöns Jacob Berzelius. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C3%B7ns_Jacob_Berzelius