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silicon

Silicon is a chemical element with the symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a blue-grey metallic lustre, and is a tetravalent metalloid and semiconductor. It is a member of group 14 in the periodic table: carbon is above it; and germanium, tin, lead, and flerovium are below it. It is relatively unreactive. Because of its high chemical affinity for oxygen, it was not until 1823 that Jöns Jakob Berzelius was first able to prepare it and characterize it in pure form. Its oxides form a family of anions known as silicates. Its melting and boiling points of 1414 °C and 3265 °C, respectively, are the second highest among all the metalloids and nonmetals, being surpassed only by boron. Silicon is the eighth most common element in the universe by mass, but very rarely occurs as the pure element in the Earth's crust. It is most widely distributed in space in cosmic dusts, planetoids, and planets as various forms of silicon dioxide (silica) or silicates. More than 90% of the Earth's crust is composed of silicate minerals, making silicon the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust (about 28% by mass), after oxygen. Silicon is a natural element, and when not previously present has a residence time of about 400 years in the world's oceans.Most silicon is used commercially without being separated, often with very little processing of the natural minerals. Such use includes industrial construction with clays, silica sand, and stone. Silicates are used in Portland cement for mortar and stucco, and mixed with silica sand and gravel to make concrete for walkways, foundations, and roads. They are also used in whiteware ceramics such as porcelain, and in traditional silicate-based soda-lime glass and many other specialty glasses. Silicon compounds such as silicon carbide are used as abrasives and components of high-strength ceramics. Silicon is the basis of the widely used synthetic polymers called silicones.
The late 20th century to early 21st century has been described as the Silicon Age (also known as the Digital Age or Information Age) because of the large impact that elemental silicon has on the modern world economy. The small portion of very highly purified elemental silicon used in semiconductor electronics (< 10%) is essential to the metal–oxide–semiconductor (MOS) transistors and integrated circuit chips used in most modern technology such as smartphones and other computers. The most widely used silicon device is the MOSFET (metal–oxide–semiconductor field-effect transistor), which has been manufactured in larger numbers than any other device in history. Free silicon is also used in the steel refining, aluminium-casting, and fine chemical industries (often to make fumed silica).
Silicon is an essential element in biology. Only traces are required by animals, but some sea sponges and microorganisms, such as diatoms and radiolaria, secrete skeletal structures made of silica. Silica is deposited in many plant tissues.

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  1. G

    Silicon sealing a back to the wall WC pan

    The pan is screwed down using a Screwfix/Rawlplug fitting kit and I have sealed the pan to the wall tiles. My question is: Do I need to also seal the pan to the floor tiles? I think it looks neater without silicon to the floor tiles and it would create a sealed void should the cistern inlet...
  2. B

    Silicon rubber washer orientation

    Hi guys, I've just taken delivery of a pull-out monobloc tap that has a large (M30?) brass nut to hold it to the sink/worksurface. Also supplied are two silicon rubber washers, to be used one above and one below the surface. This is all clearly described in the (minimal) fitting instructions...
  3. B

    Looking for silicon/ plastic glue/ expoy suitable for use with potable water

    Hi there, I have one of these: The little plastic tap has a crack in it which causes it to leak hot water. It looks like the tap will be a pain in the bum to change if it is even possible. Can anyone reccommend me something to glue/seal the crack which will be safe to come into contact...
  4. H

    removing silicone

    When I have finished the bathroom in the house on working on I have siliconed everything but in places I need to clean it up When its dry what's the best way to get silicone off metal such as the frame work on a shower. Rubbing my finger takes ages on it so want another way that's easy and not...
  5. W

    Silicon Lubricant and JG Speed Fit?

    Hi There, I was wondering if anyone could recommend a silicon lubricant that can be used for potable water pipes? When I look at the tech specs on the various products they don't seem to say one way or the other! Also, has anyone out there used JG Speed fit fittings for a central heating...
  6. Worcester

    Solartwin - silicon tubing eaten by mice !

    Anyone else come across this yet? Thanks to another member of the forum we attnded a call out last week to find out why a solar thermal system was leaking. first time I'd seen a solartwin install, and took a while toget my head around how it worked. Basically it reverse cycles water...
  7. Ted808

    Trough shower drain leak problem, advice

    Hi there I am faced with an 4 yr old shower installation which has started to leak. It's a wet room style shower floor with a trough drain. Only access is via a hole i cut in the ceiling below and even then it's limited. It's not the trap or waste pipe... The cust has sili sealed all around...
  8. lolipop

    Silicon remover

    Does this really work got a shower cubicle to refit
  9. W

    minimalist wetroom shower screen installation help???

    Hello all. Having fitted many bathrooms for many years, I have never fitted a wetroom. Heres the question....... a minimalist frameless shower screen panel in a show room is fitted with 2 chrome clamped arms at both top corners of the screen fixed into the wall, no end wall fixings as its a...
  10. B

    biasi m90 24spulsing fan

    been to a biasi m90 24s to day no flashing lights but no hw or htg. the fan was pulsing on and off. checked aps which was ok .biasi are saying its the ignition board the relay on it is sticking.if i removed the silicon aps tube the fan constantly runs at a fast speed but if i removed the wires...
  11. M

    can you apply silicone over silicone?

    Is it possible, say, when you have a leak around a basin, bath or shower from a hole in the silicone. Can you apply a bit on top to cure leak? Or, do you need to renew the whole seal?
  12. P

    Recessed shower

    Hi, I'm doing a downstairs shower room with a concrete floor & intend to install the raised shower (1000 x 900mm) in a corner with two walls thermalite block, rendered & plastered. The third wall will be a stud partition, which will also house the pipework . I'm using Aquapanel on all three...
  13. P

    silicon sealant storage in van?

    hi, just got a new van im racking out, and i want some ideas for silicon tube storage/ racking in my van, was thinking of putting one of these on each back door Caulk & Silicon tube holder 320mm wide van racking shelving accessory | eBay but i have alot of silicon/ gripfil/ caulk etc, so was...
  14. P

    Tips on doing a thick layer of silicon

    Hi I need to put a 3cm layer of silicon around my washbasin but I just cannot get a good smooth layer. It always ends up rutted. Any top tips please thanks Paul
  15. M

    silicon around bath

    I have built a bath frame around my bath and it is all tiled and grouted. Do i need to add a silicon bead around the bath where it meets the tile. The cuts all look good so i was thinking i just dont need any silicon here. Also not much water is going to try and penetrate this join. What do...
  16. A

    Fixing Wash Bowls

    Hi, (First Post) I'm about to undergo fitting a washbowl on a bathroom unit with seperate mixer tap. I received the bowl from the manufacturer (Vitra) friday. The bowl did not come with any holding down type fixings and the trap arrangment doesn't offer any holding down capabilty. I contacted...
  17. D

    Basin waste

    I am fitting a slotted basin waste which only has one rubber washer. Should I have a washer both top and bottom or could I set the outlet in jointing compound within the basin?
  18. S

    Pipe with silicon rubber tubes in it.

    First off this is not a job, same as the Saniflo type systems, are there jobs plumbers don't do. thread. Just getting titbits of info while studying, basically so I don't go blindly into things, plus I might forgot the questions in a few years time. Where I work (sport centre) there's plastic...
  19. A

    silicon grease?

    Hi all, I've read somewhere that a drop of silicon grease helps for instance when replacing the "o" ring in a mixer tap. Does anyone use the stuff? If so which type? cheers fellas, dave
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