Element 14

Silicon (Si)

Metalloid · Period 3 · Group 14 · p-block

Silicon (Si) is element 14 of the periodic table, a metalloid in period 3, group 14 (p-block) with an atomic mass of 28.085 and is a solid at standard conditions.

At a glance

Atomic number
14
Symbol
Si
Atomic mass
28.085 u
Category
Metalloids
Period
3
Group
14
Block
p-block
Phase at STP
solid

Electron structure

Electron configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p2
Shorthand configuration
[Ne] 3s2 3p2
Electrons per shell
2, 8, 4
Oxidation states
-4, -3, -2, -1, +1, +2, +3, +4

Physical properties

Melting point
1687 K
Boiling point
3538 K
Density
2.3296 g/cm3
Phase
solid

Atomic properties

Electronegativity (Pauling)
1.9
Atomic radius
111 pm
Covalent radius
111 pm
Van der Waals radius
210 pm
First ionization energy
786 kJ/mol
Electron affinity
134 kJ/mol

Notable isotopes

IsotopeMassAbundanceStability
Si-2827.9769392.23%Stable

Common uses

  • Computer chips
  • Solar cells
  • Glass
  • Silicones

Discovery

Year
1824
Discovered by
Jöns Jacob Berzelius
Country
Sweden

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