14SiSilicon28.085[Ne] 3s² 3p²
metalloid
Silicon
Silicon is a chemical element with symbol Si and atomic number 14. It is a tetravalent metalloid, more reactive than germanium, the metalloid directly below it in the table. Controversy about silicon's character dates to its discovery.
A stylized shell model. Electrons are quantum objects, not particles following these literal paths. Sizes and motion are illustrative.
Electrons by shell
Electron configuration
3s2
3p2
10 is the [Ne] core total across two shells.
At a glance
- Atomic number
- 14
- Atomic mass
- 28.085 u
- Phase
- Solid
- Density
- 2.329 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1,687 K
- Boiling point
- 3,538 K
- First ionization energy
- 786.5 kJ/mol
- Electronegativity
- 1.9
- Electron affinity
- 134.0684 kJ/mol
- Molar heat capacity
- 19.789 J/(mol·K)
- Period
- 3
- Appearance
- crystalline, reflective with bluish-tinged faces
Conditions and isotopes affect measured properties. Some properties of short-lived elements are predicted. Electronegativity uses the Pauling scale.
Keep exploring
Explore the stories, imagery, and reference data in more depth. Properties with no value in the reference are marked unavailable.