Element 14
Silicon
Metalloids
Silicon (Si) is in the p-block of the periodic table — group 14, period 3.
Silicon is a chemical element with symbol Si and atomic number 14.
Key data
- Atomic number
- 14
- Atomic mass
- 28.085 u
- Group / Period
- 14 / 3
- Block
- p-block
- Phase at STP
- Solid
- Density
- 2.329 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 1413.8 °C
- Boiling point
- 3264.8 °C
- Electron configuration
- [Ne] 3s2 3p2
Periodic table block
Silicon is in the p-block (group 14, period 3). Elements land in the p-block when their highest-energy electrons fill a p subshell — this region holds most nonmetals, the metalloids, and the metals on the right of the table.
New to this? Periodic table blocks explained: s, p, d, and f
Common uses
- •Computer chips
- •Glass
- •Solar cells
Discovery
Year: 1824
Discovered by: Jöns Jacob Berzelius
Named by: Thomas Thomson (chemist)
Frequently asked questions
What is the atomic number of Silicon?
Silicon has atomic number 14. Its symbol is Si and its atomic mass is 28.085 u.
What category of element is Silicon?
Silicon is classified as metalloids. It sits in group 14, period 3 of the periodic table.
What block of the periodic table is Silicon in?
Silicon is in the p-block (group 14, period 3). Its highest-energy electrons occupy the p subshell — you can see this in its electron configuration, [Ne] 3s2 3p2.
What is Silicon used for?
Common uses of Silicon include: Computer chips, Glass, Solar cells.
When was Silicon discovered?
Silicon was discovered in 1824 by Jöns Jacob Berzelius.
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