Silicon (Si)
Sand is made of it, and so are computer chips!
Silicon facts
- Symbol
- Si
- Atomic number
- 14
- Atomic mass
- 28.085
- Family
- Metalloids
- Period
- 3
- Group
- 14
Famous reactions with silicon
- Almost as hard as diamond! Silicon meets CarbonSilicon carbide (carborundum) Si + C → SiC · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
What does silicon react with?
Silicon makes a new substance with 20 other elements and chemicals in our lab:
- Silicon + NitrogenSilicon nitride 3Si + 2N₂ → Si₃N₄ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + OxygenSilicon dioxide (quartz) Si + O₂ → SiO₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + FluorineSilicon tetrafluoride Si + 2F₂ → SiF₄ · At room temperature · Try it
- Silicon + MagnesiumMagnesium silicide 2Mg + Si → Mg₂Si · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + SulfurSilicon disulfide Si + 2S → SiS₂ · Only when heated very strongly · Try it
- Silicon + ChlorineSilicon tetrachloride Si + 2Cl₂ → SiCl₄ · When heated · Try it
- Silicon + CalciumCalcium disilicide Ca + 2Si → CaSi₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + TitaniumTitanium silicide Ti + 2Si → TiSi₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + ChromiumChromium silicide Cr + 2Si → CrSi₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + ManganeseManganese silicide Mn + Si → MnSi · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + IronIron silicide Fe + Si → FeSi · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + CobaltCobalt silicide Co + 2Si → CoSi₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + NickelNickel silicide Ni + Si → NiSi · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + BromineSilicon tetrabromide Si + 2Br₂ → SiBr₄ · Only when heated very strongly · Try it
- Silicon + ZirconiumZirconium silicide Zr + 2Si → ZrSi₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + MolybdenumMolybdenum silicide Mo + 2Si → MoSi₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + PalladiumPalladium silicide 2Pd + Si → Pd₂Si · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + IodineSilicon tetraiodide Si + 2I₂ → SiI₄ · Only when heated very strongly · Try it
- Silicon + TungstenTungsten silicide W + 2Si → WSi₂ · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
- Silicon + PlatinumPlatinum silicide Pt + Si → PtSi · Only in a very hot furnace · Try it
It also blends into a mixture, like an alloy, with 1 other metal when melted together.
Nothing happens when it's simply mixed with 76 of the others. 21 pairings have never been tried, because not enough atoms have ever existed.