Silicon was first identified by Antoine Lavoisier in 1787 and isolated by Jöns Jacob Berzelius in 1823, marking its official discovery. Commercial extraction of silicon involves heating silicon dioxide (SiO2) with coke in a blast furnace to remove impurities. However, conducting small-scale experiments at home is challenging due to the high temperatures required for SiO2 reduction. The discussion emphasizes the historical context of silicon's discovery, driven by chemists' curiosity to decompose substances into elemental forms.
PREREQUISITESChemistry students, materials scientists, and anyone interested in the historical and practical aspects of silicon extraction and its applications.
Borek said:I am not sure if I understand the first question, as the only answer I am aware of is "curiosity". What I mean is that chemists were trying at the time to decompose every substance into what they called "simple substances" - what we today know as elements (note: don't treat nomenclature I am using too seriously, as I am translating from Polish). Berzelius was the first one to succeed in preparing pure silicon, but I don't remember reading about any special events that lead to that discovery.
Small scale & home experiment looks unlikely to me, you need high temperatures for SiO2 reduction. Does it have to be production of Si, or something else where Si compounds are involved will do as well?