What is the difference between silica and silicone

Silica also comes in other mineral forms, such as flint, jasper and opal. When silicon and oxygen mix with reactive metals, the result is a class of minerals called silicates, which includes granite, feldspar and mica. Silicon has many industrial uses : As silica, silicon is a key ingredient in bricks, concrete and glass. In its silicate form, the element is used to make enamels, pottery and ceramics.

Elemental silicon is a major player in modern electronics because it's an ideal semiconductor of electricity. When heated into a molten state, silicon can be formed into semi-conductive wafers, to serve as the base for integrated circuits microchips.

This can majorly be found in the sand all over the world. Many industries such as the pharmaceutical industry, food industry, and electrical industry use this compound to manufacture and finish their end products. This compound, however, is not able to conduct electricity and has a melting point of Celsius.

This is a compound and happens to be an oxide of Silicon primarily. It comes into existence by a chemical chain of reactions between oxygen and silicon atoms. In the language of chemistry, Silicon is known as Si and has a chemical number 14 attached to it. Although, this was discovered in the year by a scientist named Antoine Lavoisier.

But it gained its current name and recognition in the year by Thomas Thomson, who was a Scottish scientist. Primarily this compound is used in making stones and clay-based on silicone, used in electronic chips at a minor quantity, use in preparing concrete and construction material. This can conduct electricity due to being a chemical element and has a melting point of Celsius which is less than the melting point of Silica.

The melting point of silicon is about 0 C. Silicon has three stable isotopes; 28 Si, 29 Si, and 30 Si. Figure 1: Silicon Metalloid. Silicon is a semiconductor. It has so many important applications in electronic industry since it is a good conductor of electricity. Silicon is also used in the synthesis of polymers called silicones.

Silicon does not occur as a free element in nature. It always occurs as a mineral with a combination of other elements. Silica is a compound made out of silicon and oxygen atoms.

Silica is the name given for silicon dioxide. The molecular formula of silica is SiO 2. Therefore, silica is made out of two most abundant elements on earth. Silica is found as quartz in nature. Silica is also the major constituent of sand. Silicones are polymers which include any inert, synthetic compound made up of repeating units of siloxane — a repeating chain of silicon and oxygen; so silicones contain silicon. Silicones are used in many products, from automobile gaskets to electronics coatings to teeth molds.

Your ice tray is probably made from them, as are your kitchen utensils and firestops. Over , tons of silicones were produced in , and the production numbers are huge to this day. Join the ZME newsletter for amazing science news, features, and exclusive scoops.

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