Silicon is, after oxygen, the most abundant element of the Earth's crust. But although about 75% of the Earth is made from silica — or silicon dioxide (SiO 2), the main constituent of silicate ...

Silicon (Si) is a metalloid, element number 14 on the periodic table. Like carbon, silicon has four bonding sites, but silicon is more than twice as heavy as carbon. The high melting point of ...

Silicon is key to the James Webb Space Telescope because it’s a reliable, affordable semiconductor. Its stable structure lets it generate data when exposed to light, making it perfect for sensors.