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How did the name silicon originate?

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A periodic table element square for silicon shows atomic number 14, symbol Si, atomic weight range, electron configuration, and name. Icons indicate it is a solid nonmetal with diamond crystal structure and equal relative strength. Labels explain each property. — silicon Chemical properties of the element silicon.

The name silicon is derived from the Latin word silex or silicis, which translates to "flint" or "hard stone".1

Etymologically, the term is formed from the New Latin silica combined with the English suffix -on, a construction similar to that used for the element carbon.2