Silicon's distinctive 'grey painted glass' appearance is primarily attributed to the presence of a silicon dioxide (SiO2) surface layer that scatters light. While pure silicon typically exhibits a shiny metallic silver color, variations in appearance can occur due to surface coatings or impurities. The discussion highlights that silicon is a semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.12 eV, and suggests that polishing or etching the silicon may alter its surface characteristics, potentially revealing its true metallic luster.
#1
Automagman
16
0
What gives silicon that 'grey painted glass' look. No other element i can think of has such a distinctive color and surface texture.
Don't know where your getting your Si, but mine is a shiny metallic silver. Si is a semiconductor with a bandgap of 1.12 eV. If the stuff you've got is gray it most is likely a surface coat of SiO2 scattering the light. Try polishing it or etching it.
It seems like a simple enough question: what is the solubility of epsom salt in water at 20°C? A graph or table showing how it varies with temperature would be a bonus. But upon searching the internet I have been unable to determine this with confidence. Wikipedia gives the value of 113g/100ml. But other sources disagree and I can't find a definitive source for the information. I even asked chatgpt but it couldn't be sure either. I thought, naively, that this would be easy to look up without...
Do the published values of Enthalpy include the work done against a constant pressure, e.g., the atmosphere? (I am not a chemist). I am reviewing enthalpy and entropy as part of the statistical mechanics applied to transistors. I assume, from my reading, that the work done would mostly apply to reactions involving gasses.
I was introduced to the Octet Rule recently and make me wonder, why does 8 valence electrons or a full p orbital always make an element inert?
What is so special with a full p orbital?
Like take Calcium for an example, its outer orbital is filled but its only the s orbital thats filled so its still reactive not so much as the Alkaline metals but still pretty reactive.
Can someone explain it to me?
Thanks!!