Scandium (Sc), chemical element, a rare-earth metal of Group 3 of the periodic table.

They have a high affinity for oxygen. They mainly have +4 oxidation state which is mainly due to the loss of all four ns2(n − 1)d2 valence electrons. The group 4 elements become denser, higher melting, and more electropositive as we move down the column in the periodic table.

A group is commonly formed of more than two items.

Uses of Silicon

• The element is a major constituent in ceramics and bricks.
• Being a semiconductor, the element is put into use for making transistors.
• Silicon is widely used in computer chips and solar cells.
• It is a vital component of Portland cement.
• Silicon is used in the production of fire bricks.

Pure silicon is a hard, dark gray solid with a metallic lustre and with a octahedral crystalline structure the same as that of the diamond form of carbon, to which silicon shows many chemical and physical similarities.

In short, silicon is a naturally occurring chemical element, whereas silicone is a synthetic substance. Silicon is the 14th element on the periodic table. It’s a metalloid, meaning it has properties of both metals and nonmetals, and is the second most abundant element in the Earth’s crust, after oxygen.

Silicon is used for electronic devices because it is an element with very special properties. One of it’s most important properties is that it is a semiconductor. This means that it conducts electricity under some conditions and acts as an insulator under others.

Characteristics: Silicon is a hard, relatively inert metalloid and in crystalline form is very brittle with a marked metallic luster. Silicon occurs mainly in nature as the oxide and as silicates. The solid form of silicon does not react with oxygen, water and most acids.

Silicon

Crystalline silica has been classified as a human lung carcinogen, and can cause serious lung disease and lung cancer. One of the dangerous effects of silica exposure is a disease called silicosis, which can be contracted after just a few months of high exposure.

The Physical Properties of Silicon are as follows:

• Color : Pure silicon is a hard, dark gray solid.
• Phase: Solid.
• Luster: A metallic shine or glow.
• *Allotropic: Silicon has two allotropic forms, a brown amorphous form, and a dark crystalline form.
• Solubility: Soluble in hydrofluoric acid and alkalis.

The highest silicon content in the body was found in connective tissue, bones, kidneys, liver, skin, spleen and lungs. The element is present in all tissues, but its content decreases with age; lower elemental concentrations are also observed in some pathological conditions (e.g. ischemic heart disease).

Silicon is an element that is present in small traces in the body. It is an essential ingredient for strengthening connective tissues, bones, and joints as well as taking care of nails, hair and skin. The human body contains 7 grams of silicon, which is present in various tissues and body fluids.

Silicone is used in building and construction, able to bond materials such as concrete, glass, granite, steel and plastics, enabling them to work better and last longer. These silicone sealants can absorb pressure and movement within engineering, allowing for more innovative architectural designs.