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silicon
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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. Jöns Jacob Berzelius A pie chart showing the mineral composition of Earth's crust, with oxygen at 46.6 percent, silicon at 27.7 percent, aluminum at 8.1 percent, iron at 5 percent, and smaller segments for calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, and other metals. Diagram showing the cycling of silica in the marine environment, with arrows illustrating processes such as river influx, inorganic adsorption, biological fixation by radiolarian and diatom skeletons, dissolution, deposition as opaline skeletal debris, upwelling, and hydrothermal activity, all within labeled ocean zones. granite silicon Explore an interactive periodic table of the elements Engineer in a cleanroom suit and white gloves holds a large silicon wafer for inspection, with laboratory equipment and a microscope visible in the background. Close-up view of a silicon computer wafer showing a grid of small, colorful, reflective microchips with intricate patterns and circuitry. solar energy; solar cell
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silicon: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

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  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

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Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Modified link of Web site: ACS Publications - Biocatalytic Transformations of Siliconthe Other Group 14 Element. Oct 10, 2026
Add new Web site: WebMD - Silicon - Uses, Side Effects, and More. Oct 03, 2025
Add new Web site: PNAS - Nanopurification of silicon from 84% to 99.999% purity with a simple and scalable process. Aug 02, 2025
Add new Web site: Frontiers - Frontiers in Plant Science - Silicon as Versatile Player in Plant and Human Biology: Overlooked and Poorly Understood. May 23, 2025
Add new Web site: ACS Publications - Biocatalytic Transformations of Siliconthe Other Group 14 Element. Dec 06, 2024
Add new Web site: Lenntech - Silicon - Si. Sep 17, 2024
Media added. Feb 25, 2024
Add new Web site: Princeton University - Silicon: the Semiconductor Material. Dec 29, 2023
Add new Web site: University of Toledo - The Instrumentation Center - Silicon. Oct 20, 2023
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - Silicon in prevention of atherosclerosis and other age-related diseases. May 02, 2023
Add new Web site: Chemistry LibreTexts - Chemistry of Silicon. Sep 01, 2022
Add new Web site: Live Science - Facts about Silicon. May 02, 2022
Removed media. Aug 26, 2021
Changed “2,355 °C (4,270 °F)” to “3,265 °C (5,909 °F).” Feb 18, 2021
Media added. Nov 05, 2020
Mentioned the use of silicon wafers in electronics and for solar power. Added cross-references throughout. Nov 05, 2020
Corrected display issue. Jan 18, 2018
Added video. Feb 06, 2015
Add new Web site: Science Kids - Fun Science and Technology for Kids - Silicon Facts. May 06, 2014
Add new Web site: Chemicool - Silicon Element Facts. May 06, 2014
Text added noting top-producing countries of silicon. Sep 05, 2013
Add new Web site: Rader's Chem4Kids.Com - Silicon. Apr 08, 2013
Add new Web site: Royal Society of Chemistry - Silicon. Apr 08, 2013
Article revised and updated. Dec 31, 2009
Article revised and updated. Oct 06, 2008
Added new Web site: Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery - The Mineral Silicon. Jun 06, 2008
Added new Web site: Los Alamos National Laboratory - Silicon. May 07, 2008
Article revised and updated. Nov 07, 2007
Article revised and updated. Apr 12, 2007
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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