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Periodic Table of Elements

Element Silicon – Si

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Silicon is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Silicon. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one studies. Using the "Periodic Table of Elements Quick Navigation" graphic at the bottom of the sidebar menu, one can quickly jump from chemical element to chemical element.

Silicon Menu

• Silicon Page One
  • Overview of Silicon
  • Silicon's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Silicon
  • Chemical Properties of Silicon
  • Physical Properties of Silicon
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Silicon Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Silicon Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Silicon

Overview of Silicon

• Atomic Number:14
• Group: 14
• Period: 3
• Series: Metalloids (Nonmetal)

Silicon's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Silicium
• Czech: Kemík
• Croatian: Silicij
• French: Silicium
• German: Silizium - r
• Italian: Silicio
• Norwegian: Silisium
• Portuguese: Silício
• Russian:
• Spanish: Silicio
• Swedish: Kisel

Atomic Structure of Silicon

• Atomic Radius: 1.46Å
• Atomic Volume: 12.1cm³/mol
• Covalent Radius: 1.11Å
• Cross Section (Thermal Neutron Capture) _a/barns: 0.171
• Crystal Structure: Cubic face centered

  

• Electron Configuration:

  1s² 2s²p⁶ 3s²p²

• Electrons per Energy Level: 2,8,4

  Shell Model
  

• Ionic Radius: 0.4Å
• Filling Orbital: 3p²
• Number of Electrons (with no charge): 14
• Number of Neutrons (most common/stable nuclide): 14
• Number of Protons: 14
• Oxidation States: 4
• Valence Electrons: 3s²p²

  Electron Dot Model
  

Chemical Properties of Silicon

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 0.26197g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 4.52eV
• Electronegativity: 1.9 (Pauling); 1.74 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 50.55kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:

  Chlorine, fluorine, oxidizers, calcium, cesium carbide, alkaline carbonates

• Ionization Potential
  • First: 8.151
  • Second: 16.345
  • Third: 33.492
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 144

Physical Properties of Silicon

• Atomic Mass Average: 28.0855
• Boiling Point: 2628K 2355°C 4271°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K^-1: 4.2E^-6
• Conductivity

  Electrical: 2.52E^-12 10⁶/cm
  Thermal: 1.48 W/cmK

• Density: 2.33g/cc @ 300K
• Description:

  Hard dark gray non-metal.

• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 100/GPa
  • Youngs: 47/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 439.3 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 46.44 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 439 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class: Combustible Solid in powder form
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Mohs: 6.5
• Heat of Vaporization: 384.22kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 1683K 1410°C 2570°F
  
• Molar Volume: 12.05 cm³/mole
• Optical Reflectivity: 28%
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.71J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 4.77@1410°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7440-21-3 amorphous powder
• UN/NA ID and ERG Guide Number
  • 1346  / 170 amorphous powder
• RTECS: VW0400000
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • TWA: 15 mg/m³ total particulate

     5 mg/m³ respirable particulate

• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • TWA: 10 mg/m³ total particulate

     5 mg/m³ respirable particulate

• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • TWA: 10 mg/m³ total particulate

     5 mg/m³ respirable particulate

• Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Ingestion; Skin and/or eye contact
  
• Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system
  
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm^-3: 3.9
  • Bone/p.p.m: 17
  • Liver/p.p.m: 12-120
  • Muscle/p.p.m: 100-200
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 18-1200 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 1 g

Who / Where / When / How

• Discoverer: Jöns J. Berzelius
• Discovery Location: Stockholm Sweden
• Discovery Year: 1824
• Name Origin:

  Latin: silex (flint).

• Abundance of Silicon:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 277100
  • Seawater/p.p.m.:
    • Atlantic Suface: 0.03
    • Atlantic Deep: 0.82
    • Pacific Surface: 0.03
    • Pacific Deep: 4.09
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E¹²): 4.47E+07
• Sources of Silicon:

  Silicon is the second most abundant element and comprises 25% of the earth's crust. Makes up major portion of clay, granite, quartz (SiO₂), and sand. Approximate annual world production wide production: electronics grade pure silicon, 5000 tons; metallurgical grade, 480,000 tons; ferrosilicon, 3,400,000. Primary mining areas are Austria, Italy, India, South Africa, Australia, Canada, USA, Brazil.

• Uses of Silicon:

  Used in glass as silicon dioxide (SiO₂). It is used as a semiconductor to make microchips for electronics (like your computer). Silicon is also used in solar cells, tools, cement, grease and oils.

• Additional Notes:

  Silicon carbide (SiC) is one of the hardest substances known.

[Last update: 2/22/2007]

Notes below

Silicon Menu

• Silicon Page One
  • Overview of Silicon
  • Silicon's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Silicon
  • Chemical Properties of Silicon
  • Physical Properties of Silicon
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Silicon Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Silicon Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Silicon

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
  Answers many questions regarding the structure of atoms.
• Molarity, Molality and Normality
  Introduces stoichiometry and explains the differences between molarity, molality and normality.
• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
  Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Silicon – Si. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2008. Accessed on-line: 8/30/2008
http://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Si.html
.