Editing Silicon (section)

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{{Infobox silicon}}
'''Silicon''' is a [[chemical element]]; it has [[Symbol (chemistry)|symbol]] '''Si''' and [[atomic number]] 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a [[Tetravalence|tetravalent]] [[metalloid]] (sometimes considered a [[non-metal]]) and [[semiconductor]]. It is a member of [[carbon group|group 14]] in the periodic table: [[carbon]] is above it; and [[germanium]], [[tin]], [[lead]], and [[flerovium]] are below it. It is relatively unreactive. Silicon is a significant element that is essential for several physiological and metabolic processes in plants. Silicon is widely regarded as the predominant semiconductor material due to its versatile applications in various electrical devices such as transistors, solar cells, integrated circuits, and others. These may be due to its significant [[band gap]], expansive optical transmission range, extensive absorption spectrum, surface roughening, and effective anti-reflection coating.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Nabil |first1=Marwa |last2=Elnouby |first2=Mohamed |last3=Al-Askar |first3=Abdulaziz A. |last4=Kowalczewski |first4=Przemysław Łukasz |last5=Abdelkhalek |first5=Ahmed |last6=Behiry |first6=Said I. |date=2024 |title=Porous silicon nanostructures: Synthesis, characterization, and their antifungal activity |journal=Open Chemistry |language=en |volume=22 |issue=1 |doi=10.1515/chem-2023-0169 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Because of its high chemical affinity for oxygen, it was not until 1823 that [[Jöns Jakob Berzelius]] was first able to prepare it and characterize it in pure form. Its [[oxide]]s form a family of [[anion]]s known as [[silicate]]s. Its melting and boiling points of 1414&nbsp;°C and 3265&nbsp;°C, respectively, are the second highest among all the metalloids and nonmetals, being surpassed only by [[boron]].{{efn|Although [[carbon]] remains solid at higher temperatures than silicon, it [[sublimation (phase transition)|sublimes]] at [[atmospheric pressure]] instead of melting and boiling, so it has no melting point and boiling point.}}

Silicon is the eighth [[Abundance of the chemical elements|most common element]] in the universe by mass, but very rarely occurs in its pure form in the Earth's crust. It is widely distributed throughout space in cosmic [[dust]]s, [[Minor planet|planetoids]], and [[planet]]s as various forms of [[silicon dioxide]] (silica) or [[silicate]]s. More than 90% of the Earth's crust is composed of [[silicate minerals]], making silicon the [[Abundance of elements in Earth's crust|second most abundant element]] in the Earth's crust (about 28% by mass), after [[oxygen]].

Most silicon is used commercially without being separated, often with very little processing of the natural minerals. Such use includes industrial construction with [[clay]]s, [[silica sand]], and [[stone]]. Silicates are used in [[Portland cement]] for [[mortar (masonry)|mortar]] and [[stucco]], and mixed with silica sand and [[gravel]] to make [[concrete]] for walkways, foundations, and roads. They are also used in whiteware [[ceramic]]s such as [[porcelain]], and in traditional [[silicate]]-based [[soda–lime glass]] and many other specialty [[glass]]es. Silicon compounds such as [[silicon carbide]] are used as abrasives and components of high-strength ceramics. Silicon is the basis of the widely used synthetic polymers called [[silicone]]s.

The late 20th century to early 21st century has been described as the Silicon Age (also known as the [[Digital Age]] or [[Information Age]]) because of the large impact that elemental silicon has on the modern world economy. The small portion of very highly purified elemental silicon used in [[semiconductor electronics]] (<15%) is essential to the [[transistors]] and [[integrated circuit]] chips used in most modern technology such as [[smartphone]]s and other [[computer]]s. In 2019, 32.4% of the semiconductor market segment was for networks and communications devices, and the semiconductors industry is projected to reach $726.73 billion by 2027.<ref>{{harvnb|Kamal|2022}}</ref>

Silicon is an essential element in biology. Only traces are required by most animals, but some [[sea sponges]] and microorganisms, such as [[diatoms]] and [[radiolaria]], secrete skeletal structures made of silica. Silica is deposited in many plant tissues.<ref name="Cutter">{{cite book|last=Cutter|first=Elizabeth G.|title=Plant Anatomy. Part 1 Cells and Tissues|edition=2nd |publisher=Edward Arnold|place=London|date=1978|isbn=978-0-7131-2639-6}}</ref>