Element 14
Silicon (Si)
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
- 1,687 K (1,413.85 °C)
- Boiling point
- 3,538 K (3,264.85 °C)
- 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
| Isotope | Mass | Abundance | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Si-28 | 27.97693 | 92.23% | Stable |
Common uses
- Computer chips
- Solar cells
- Glass
- Silicones
Discovery
- Year
- 1824
- Discovered by
- Jöns Jacob Berzelius
- Country
- Sweden
Frequently asked questions
- Is silicon a metal?
- Silicon is a metalloid, which means it shows properties of both metals and nonmetals.
- How many protons does silicon have?
- Silicon has 14 protons. Its atomic number is 14, which is also the number of electrons in a neutral atom of silicon.
- What group and period is silicon in?
- Silicon is in group 14 and period 3 of the periodic table, in the p-block.
- What is the atomic mass of silicon?
- The atomic mass of silicon is 28.085 u (unified atomic mass units).
Keep exploring
Silicon's row is on the printable element property sheet, and its tile is on the periodic table wall chart - the same numbers as above, laid out for A4 or A3 paper.