Silicon

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Silicon (Si)

Silicon (pronounced /ˈsɪlɪkən/ or /ˈsɪlɪkoʊn/) is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor.

Etymology

The word silicon originates from the Latin word silex or silicis, meaning flint or hard stone. It was first identified by Jöns Jacob Berzelius, a Swedish chemist, in 1824.

Medical Uses

Silicon is an essential element for the human body and is present in various amounts in different tissues. It plays a crucial role in the formation and health of connective tissues, bones, skin, and hair. Silicon supplements are often recommended for improving skin, hair, and nail health.

Related Terms

  • Silicon dioxide: Also known as silica, it is a natural compound made of two of the earth’s most abundant materials: silicon (Si) and oxygen (O2).
  • Silicones: A type of synthetic polymers that include any inert, synthetic compound made up of repeating units of siloxane.
  • Silicosis: A form of occupational lung disease caused by inhalation of crystalline silica dust.

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski