Silicon Arrowheads

 
                                             Properties of silicon
 Crystalline Silicon (Silicon in its crystal form) has a metallic luster, and is somewhat gray in color. Silicon is a metalloid and has properties of both metals and non-metals. In crystalline form it a semiconductor, and a more effective semiconductor than any other element for industrial uses. Another other common form of silicon has no crystal structure, and usually occurs as a brown powder.

 
 
Atomic number-14

Atomic mass-28.0855 g.mol -1

Electronegativity according to Pauling-1.8

Density-2.33 g.cm -3 at 20 °C

Melting point-1410 °C

Boiling point-3265 °C

Vanderwaals radius-0.132 nm

Silicon Nano Technology

The entire hebrew Bible is saved on this nano chip.

This in an image of a silicon compound used in nano chips, and micro flash technology. It is composed of 1 Silicon atom (red) and 3 Hydrogen atoms (blue)

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Uses of Silicon

Silicon is undoubtably one of the most useful elements. When it is in its sand form it can be used to make concrete and brick. Because it is a semi-conducter, it is a useful material for high temperate work, because a low temperature can be easily maintained. When Silicon is in a silicate compound form it is useful in making enamels, pottery, and other similar types of materials. When Silica is in its sand form it is used for making glass. Glass is a generally cheap, and easy to manufacture material. Because of its exceptional mechanical, optical, thermal and electric properties it a main component in the technological revolution. Other more direct uses of glass include containers, windows, insulators, and thousands more.

Silicon is also important to both plant and animal life. Diatoms in both salt, and fresh water extract Silica from the water to build their cell walls. Silicon is also found in the human skeleton, and is a primary structural component in all animals skeletal systems.

Technology

Silicon is a very useful element, and is leading the technological revolution. The properties of silicon are essentially perfect to allow easy manipulation and development.

Communications and the Internet
One of the ways that silicon is used is in the making of optical fibers. These fibers are the primary fuel of the world wide web, and are the foundations of the internet. These optic fibers are made of super stretched silicon and silica compounds, and allow easy transfer of data via different rates of light variations, and signals. Wireless internet has recently become widely available, and is also fueled signal emitters.
Cell phones are also a notable example of Silicons capabilities. While the cell phone case and is commonly made of silicon, the internal components are as well. Besides the computer chips which i had discussed in the prior paragraph, the small chip that emits, and receives a signal is made of super pure silicon. The reason that we have been able to create these devices as small as they are today is because of the extreme controllability of silicon, which allows us to create such tiny, yet powerful electronic chips

Asbestos Fiber

Hazards of Silicon

Because Silicon is such a useful element that we are constantly using more of it, and therefore engaging more miners and stonecutters in work. These people who harvest and work with Silicon are often known to develop a lung disease called silicosis. Silicosis is obtained by the inhalation of silicon dust, that is produced in the workplace. By breathing in the sharp silicon particles the lungs are cut and scarred by the dust, and this causes breathing problems, and can eventually lead to death if severe enough. Asbestos is a silica compound and has been used for many purposes including insulation, and stabilizing steal and concrete. When asbestos is inhaled it can cause a disease called mesothelioma. Mesothelioma occurs when the mesothelium, which is a sac like lining around our internal organs that allows them to shift, and us to move without damage, becomes cancerous. This disease is a serious problem, and can, and does lead to death in most cases. Though the cause of the disease is now realized, uprisings of mesothelioma still trouble many.