Is Silicon (Si) Unpaired Electrons?

[anigeo]

my textbook says that silicon(Si) has 4 unpaired electrons whereas i think that there are no unpaired electrons in Si as both the p electrons that are present are already paired.
could u tell me if i am wrong somewhere?

 

[Borek]

In what context is it said? In the ground state I would expect s²p², but perhaps they aim at the hybridized sp³ (not that it physically exists).

 

[anigeo]

In what context is it said? In the ground state I would expect s²p², but perhaps they aim at the hybridized sp³ (not that it physically exists).

please tell me how many unpaired electrons does it have?i have already given my suppositions.

 

[256bits]

silicon - 4 valence electrons

Shells would have 1 electron in each before pairing
I would think your testbook is of the opinion silicon has arrangement
[Ne] s1 p1 p1 p1

 

[anigeo]

silicon - 4 valence electrons

Shells would have 1 electron in each before pairing
I would think your testbook is of the opinion silicon has arrangement
[Ne] s1 p1 p1 p1

thanx.you really gave me a thousand bits answer.just joking.
actually i got that this will result in half filled orbitals which is more stable due to symmetricity.