What is the Difference Between Silicon and Silica?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The main difference between silicon and silica lies in their chemical composition and structure:
- Silicon:
- Silicon is a chemical element represented by the symbol "Si" and has an atomic number of 14.
- It is a hard semiconductor and tetravalent metalloid with a brittle crystalline solid structure and a bluish-grey metallic luster.
- Silicon is widely used in electronics and as a semiconductor.
- Silica:
- Silica, also known as silicon dioxide, is an oxide of silicon with the chemical formula SiO₂.
- It is mainly found naturally in quartz and diverse living organisms.
- Silica is one of the most abundant and complex families of materials, existing only as synthetic products and compounds of various minerals.
- It is a functional filler in paints, plastics, and rubber, and silica sand is used in water filtration and agriculture.
In summary, silicon is a chemical element and a semiconductor, while silica is a chemical compound made of silicon and oxygen, commonly found in nature and used in various industrial applications.
Comparative Table: Silicon vs Silica
Here is a table comparing the differences between silicon and silica:
Property | Silicon | Silica |
---|---|---|
Definition | Silicon is a chemical element (the 14th element in the Periodic Table) and the second most common element on Earth. | Silica is a compound made of silicon and oxygen atoms, also known as silicon dioxide (SiO2). |
Form | Silicon is a hard, brittle crystalline solid with a silver/grey-bluish luster. | Silica is available in both crystalline (e.g., quartz) and amorphous (non-crystalline) forms. |
Chemical Composition | Silicon is a semi-metal with a strong affinity for oxygen, so it is almost always found as silicon dioxide (SiO2), also known as silica and quartz. | Silica is a mixture of silicon and oxygen. |
Uses | Silicon is widely used in semiconductors, refining steel, casting aluminum, and the production of glass, concrete, and brick. | Silica is used in ceramics, enamels, Portland cement, mortar, stucco, and pottery. It is also used in optics, including the production of glass for windows and lenses. |
Electrical Conductivity | Silicon is a semiconductor capable of conducting electricity. | Silica is not an electrical conductor. |
Melting Point | Silicon has a melting point of around 1414°C. | Silica's melting point is approximately 1713°C. |
In summary, silicon is a chemical element and semiconductor, while silica is a compound made of silicon and oxygen. They have different chemical compositions, physical properties, and uses.
Read more:
- Silicone vs Silica
- Silicon vs Silicone
- Silica vs Silicon Dioxide
- Silica vs Quartz
- Organosilicon vs Silicone
- Silicon vs Carbon
- Silicone vs Siloxane
- Silane vs Siloxane
- Silicon vs Germanium
- Fused Silica vs Quartz
- Silicate vs Non Silicate Minerals
- Rubber vs Silicone
- Molecular Sieve vs Silica Gel
- Silicon Carbide vs Boron Carbide
- Colloidal Silica vs Reactive Silica
- Sodium Silicate vs Sodium Metasilicate
- Fumed Silica vs Precipitated Silica
- Silicon vs Gallium-Arsenide
- Hydrogel vs Silicone Hydrogel