That's a good one. I was going to say that, but you beat me to it :)mfb said:You could check if it really behaves like a semiconductor, e. g. decreases its resistance when heated.
Well, sand (SiO2) is used in water filtration commonly, but I've never heard of elemental silicon being used in that fashion.Theoden said:Let's say I have an amount of freshly-isolated silicon in the bottom of a jar of water. I have heard it is usable for water filtration; but how else could I use this element, and with it could I make silicone? I have searched google on making silicone, but all I have found are subjects about things like caulking.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Are you sure you mean to say silicon and not silica? How exactly do you precipitate elemental silicon in water?Theoden said:Let's say I have an amount of freshly-isolated silicon in the bottom of a jar of water.
Theoden said:The isolation recipe involves mixing silica with magnesium and heating it ( to separate it into layers: magnesium, magnesium oxide, magnesium silicide, and purified silicon at the bottom ), then dropping it in in a diluted form of muriatic acid ( to get everything but the purified silicon out of the solution ). The skeleton equations would be something like this:
12Mg + HCl --> 12Mg + H + Cl
Si + HCI --> SiH4 + Cl
TeethWhitener said:1) Heating magnesium metal and working with silane gas are both very dangerous propositions, even for someone who knows what they're doing (see point 2).
2) Your equations make no sense. "H" and "Cl" by themselves are not species that appear in chemical reactions like this. Also, combining magnesium with HCl will give you hydrogen gas and MgCl2. Combining silicon with HCl will probably give you silicon tetrachloride, or at best a mixed silicon hydrochloride.
3) Even if you do manage to prepare silane gas, it is immediately pyrophoric (catches fire spontaneously) in air.
I think what you're trying to do here is to thermally decompose silane derived from magnesium silicide. Given the level of chemistry knowledge demonstrated in your other posts on this thread, I can't in good conscience recommend you do this on your own.
Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a metalloid, meaning it has properties of both metals and non-metals. Silicon is important because it is the second most abundant element on Earth and is a key component in many technological and industrial applications, including electronics, solar panels, and building materials.
Yes, silicon is the most commonly used material for making computer chips. It is a semiconductor, meaning it can conduct electricity in some conditions and not in others, making it ideal for creating the tiny circuits and transistors that make up computer chips.
Silicon has many other uses, including in the production of glass, ceramics, and concrete. It is also used in the manufacturing of medical implants, such as artificial joints and dental implants. In addition, silicon is used in the production of silicone, a versatile material used in everything from sealants and adhesives to medical devices and kitchenware.
Silicon is extracted from silica, a compound found in sand and quartz. The process involves heating the silica with carbon in an electric arc furnace, which produces silicon and carbon monoxide. The silicon is then purified through a process called the Siemens process, which involves reacting it with hydrogen chloride gas.
Silicon itself is not harmful to the environment, as it is a naturally occurring element. However, the extraction and purification processes can have negative environmental impacts, such as air and water pollution. Additionally, improper disposal of electronic devices containing silicon, such as cell phones and computers, can lead to environmental contamination. It is important to properly recycle and dispose of these items to minimize potential harm.