atomic number 14

Friendly

The term "atomic number 14" refers specifically to the chemical element silicon. Let's break this down for better understanding:

Basic Explanation:

• Atomic Number: This is a number that tells us how many protons are in the nucleus of an atom of an element. Every element has a unique atomic number.
• Element: A substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
• Silicon: This is a nonmetallic element that has the atomic number 14.

Characteristics of Silicon:

• Tetravalent: This means that silicon can form four bonds with other atoms.
• Common in Nature: Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust after oxygen. You can find it in many natural materials like clay, feldspar, granite, quartz, and sand.
• Uses: Silicon is very important in technology. It is commonly used as a semiconductor in electronic devices, like transistors, which are crucial for computers and many other electronic gadgets.

Usage Instructions:

• When discussing chemistry or materials science, you might say, "Silicon, with an atomic number of 14, is essential in the manufacturing of computer chips."

Example Sentence:

• "Silicon, which has the atomic number 14, is vital for the production of solar panels."

Advanced Usage:

• In more advanced discussions, you might encounter phrases like "silicon-based technology" or "silicon compounds," which refer to technologies and materials that utilize silicon in their composition.

Word Variants:

• The term "silicon" can be used as a noun (e.g., "Silicon is used in electronics") but does not have many variants since it is a specific element.

Different Meaning:

• The word "silicon" can also refer to the material itself, such as in "silicon wafers," which are thin slices of silicon used in electronics.

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "silicon," but it is often referred to in scientific contexts simply as "Si," which is its chemical symbol.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• While there are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs specifically related to silicon, you might hear phrases like "silicon valley," which refers to the region in California famous for its technology companies.

Summary:

• Atomic Number 14 = Silicon
• Key Characteristics: Nonmetallic, tetravalent, abundant in the Earth's crust, used in semiconductors.

Academic

Noun

1. a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors

Synonyms

• silicon
• Si