• What is Silicon?
Silicon is the second most abundant element on Earth’s crust, next to Oxygen. Silicon is very versatile, making it very reliable and important to use for our daily lives. Silicon can be found at the 14th group in the Periodic Table also known as the Carbon Family. The element was said to be discovered by Berzelius in 1824.

• Semiconductor
Although not as good as conductors like gold, silver, and bronze, semiconductors are widely demanded nowadays especially by electrical manufacturing companies. Silicon is one of the most important semiconductors that are widely used because of its very low defection occurrences. It is used for fabrication of chips for electronic devices including our day-to- day gadgets like computers, Androids, and GPSs. Semiconductors are also used to produce lasers and LEDs because they can emit a specific light color when applied with voltage.

• Beach Sand
Silicon can be found at nearly 27.6% of the earth’s crust. The element was most abundant in its brown amorphous powder form which is found mainly in sand beaches. It can also have a form as quartz, jasper, and opal. Silicon is found in different minerals such as feldspar, micas, olivine, pyroxenes, and in water.

• Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is found in California, United States, wherein advance electronic technologies can be found. It was first called “Silicon Valley” in 1971 by a newsletter article written by Donald C. Hoefler. It became the center of technological development in U.S. The origin of its name came from its first main products which are chips made up of Silicon semiconductors.

• Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
The most common compound of silicon and also the most abundant chemical compound that can be found in earth’s crust is Silicon Dioxide (also known as Silica) which has a symbol of SiO2. An exposure of Oxygen which causes the Silicon’s surface to oxidize forms the SiO2.

• Intel Chips
The Intel Company is one of the leading manufacturers of computer chips. Silicon is the key-ingredient of these industry-leading Intel chips. According to their website, silicon are first purified and melted to form an ingot (a block of metal/element) which is sliced down into discs called wafer. Wafers undergo the fab (fabrication facility), wherein chips are built simultaneously onto it in a grid-like formation.

• Solar Cells
Silicon-based solar cells are the most widely used solar cells. Silicon produces unique oxides on its surface when exposed to high temperature, it is one of the main reasons why silicon in making solar cells. Although they can’t absorb all colors of light, silicon-based solar panels is still the most efficient one to use, one reason is because of its lower cost versus other substitute elements.

• Construction Industry
Silicon also has its part in the construction industry. Silica is one of the main building ingredients for making building components such as bricks, cements, ceramics, and tiles. But it also has some risks, especially for the health of construction workers, silicon is very harmful when inhaled, thus a mask to prevent harmful effects is a must.

• Fiber Optics
Fiber Optics cables rely on long undistorted light signal coming from distant sources. Special ultra-high purity glass made up of the purest silica is used to support this needs and to be more efficient. This makes the cost for our Internet supply decrease.

• Silicone Polymers
Silicon is harmful when inhaled but it is safe when digested or injected into the body. Silicone polymers are processed silicon that is usually used in plastic surgeries in different parts of the body mostly in female breasts.