Silicon

Definition

Silicon is a chemical element with atomic number 14 and symbol Si. It is a metalloid found abundantly in nature and commonly used in semiconductor devices due to its unique electrical properties.

Related terms

Semiconductor: A material that has electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators. Silicon is one such example.

Valence Electrons:

Electrons located in the outermost shell or energy level of an atom. For silicon, it has four valence electrons.

Doping: Adding impurities intentionally to alter the electrical conductivity of semiconductors like silicon.