Silicon Group

Silicon has become a synonym for the high-tech industry because silicon is the basis for electronic devices, the main components of computers and other consumer electronics.

But what really is silicon, and where does it come from? Silicon is one of the elements. Its atomic number is 14 and its atomic symbol is Si. It is a chemical analog to carbon and a tetravalent metalloid, less reactive than carbon, which is a non-metal.

Silicon is one of the most common elements found in nature; the eighth most common in the entire universe as far as its mass goes. However, it only rarely is found in its pure form.  Its wide distribution is accounted for in dust particles, sand, planetoids and planets in the form of silicon dioxide. More than 90% of the Earth’s crust is made up of silicate minerals. After oxygen silicon is the most abundant element found in the crust of the earth, coming to about 28% by mass.

Silicates are widely used for construction materials such as concrete and gravel, cement and stucco. But in recent years highly purified, elemental silicon has had a huge impact on the world economy. Although only 10% or less of the world’s silicon is used in its elemental form, because it is used to produce integrated circuits, the foundation of most computers, modern technology has become quite reliant on silicon.