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Silicon (Si), element 14
Silicon (Si) is the chemical element with atomic number 14: a metalloid in group 14, period 3. At 25 °C it is a solid, with an atomic mass of 28.09 u.
Physical and chemical data
| Atomic number | 14 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Si |
| Atomic mass | 28.09 u |
| Density | 2.33 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1,413.85 °C (1,687 K) |
| Boiling point | 3,264.85 °C (3,538 K) |
| Electronegativity (Pauling) | 1.9 |
| Electron configuration | [Ne]3s2 3p2 |
| Atomic radius (van der Waals) | 210 pm |
| Oxidation states | +4, +2, -4 |
| Physical state at 25 °C | solid |
| Family | metalloid |
| Group and period | 14 / 3 |
| Discoverer and year | Jöns Jacob Berzelius (1824) |
The discovery record belongs to Jöns Jacob Berzelius, in 1824.
Neighbours on the table
Horizontally, one proton less lands on Aluminum (Z=13); one more lands on Phosphorus (Z=15). Vertically, group 14 gathers relatives with similar behaviour: Carbon, Germanium, Tin, Lead.
The story behind the name
It comes from the Latin silex, the flint that made sparks and tools in prehistory; Berzelius isolated it in 1824. After oxygen it is the most common atom in Earth's crust: beach sand, glass and granite are largely silicon. The same element of knapped stones became the substrate of every chip, to the point of naming Silicon Valley; and the classic mix-up is worth noting: silicone, the polymer of implants and sealants, is a compound that contains silicon, not the pure element.
Physical and chemical data: PubChem Periodic Table (NCBI, compiling NIST and IUPAC), public domain, snapshot of 2026-07-10. Temperatures converted from kelvin; historical notes cross checked against classic chemistry references.
Last updated: · Methodology and sources