Nonmetal Silicon The second most abundant element on Earth is the nonmetal
silicon, which makes up about 28 percent of the Earth's crust. It
occurs only in such combined forms as silica (silicon dioxide) and
silicate rocks and minerals. The most common form of silica is quartz,
which includes sand and flint. Silicates are salts in which silica is
combined with oxygen and other elements, such as aluminum, magnesium,
calcium, sodium, iron, and potassium.
Silicon has a strong affinity for oxygen. Pure silicon can be obtained
by breaking down its combined form. It is prepared commercially by
reducing (removing the oxygen from) the oxide by reaction with a
carbon-based substance such as coke in electric furnaces. Some silicon
is obtained by reducing silicon dioxide with aluminum. Amorphous
silicon, prepared in the laboratory by heating silica with magnesium
powder, is a dark-brown crystalline powder.
Pure silicon is a hard, dark-gray solid with a metallic luster. Its
crystalline structure is the same as that of the diamond form of
carbon, with which silicon shares many chemical and physical
properties. Elemental silicon has few applications; it is used in
metallurgy as a reducing agent and as an alloying element in steel,
brass, and bronze. (See also Alloy.)
Highly purified silicon is a poor conductor of electricity. When it is
doped, or treated with other atoms, however, it yields electrons for a
current. The silicon that is produced in this process is used
extensively in transistors, integrated circuits, photoelectric
devices, and othe...
... middle of paper ...
...20? C) 5.75-7.31
Boiling Point 4,118? F (2,270? C)
Melting Point 450? F (232? C)
Germanium, brittle silver element predicted in 1871 by Mendeleev but
not discovered until 1886 by Clemens Winkler. It is used as
superconductor in electronics; window and lens component in equipment
to measure infrared radiation; component of camera lenses and
microscopes; and in transistors and in phosphors for fluorescent
lamps. It is found as a part of the minerals argyrodite, germanite,
and renierite and in coal. It can kill certain harmful bacteria
without causing toxicity to humans and is being studied as a
therapeutic agent.
Properties of Germanium
Symbol Ge Atomic number 32 Atomic weight 72.59 Group in periodic table
IVa Boiling point 4,892o F (2,700o C) Melting point 1,719o F (937.2o
C) Specific gravity 5.323
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the second most abundant element on earth is the nonmetal silicon, which makes up about 28 percent of the earth's crust. the most common form of silica is quartz.
- Explains that silicon has a strong affinity for oxygen. pure silicon can be obtained by breaking down its combined form.
- Explains that silicon, prepared in the laboratory by heating silica with magnesium powder, is a dark-brown crystalline powder.
- Explains that highly purified silicon is a poor conductor of electricity and is used extensively in transistors, integrated circuits and photoelectric devices.
- Explains that silicon valley is a region in california famous for computer technology because of the significance of silicon in microprocessors.
- Explains that silicon aerogels are transparent, highly porous substances consisting of tiny spheres of bonded silicon and oxygen atoms joined into long strands.
- Explains that tin-plated steel could have important applications as high-efficiency insulators and radiation detectors.
- Explains that plastic coatings have replaced tin in many food containers, and aluminum in making cans has dropped sharply. steel is plated by dipping sheets of it in molten steel or by passing continuous strips on high-speed rubber rollers
- Explains that tin is a constituent of alloys having low melting points, such as bronze, babbitt metal, type metal and solder metal.
- Explains that tin can form a bond with carbon, as in the more than 500 organotine compounds, used in making wood, paper, paint, textile products, agricultural sprays, and hospital disinfectants.
- Explains that tin is refined by electrolysis. china led the world in production in the 1990s, followed by brazil, indonesia, malaysia, and bolivia.
- Explains that the international tin council (itc), a cartel, supported artificially high prices for tin while world use dropped.
- Explains that the itc suspended export controls in 1985, but the association of tin producing countries reinstituted quotas in 1987.
- Explains that tin concentrates were produced from placer deposits in alaska, and a major secondary source is scrap, which is recovered at detinning plants. bronze alloyed with copper ushered in the bronze age of civilization.
- Describes germanium, a brittle silver element predicted in 1871 by mendeleev but not discovered until 1886 by clemens winkler.
- Explains that superconductor in electronics, window and lens component in equipment to measure infrared radiation, and transistors and in phosphors for fluorescent lamps. it can kill certain harmful bacteria without causing toxicity to humans.
Related
- argumentative
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- Aluminumargumentative essayAluminum Hello buddy! How is the weather in Paris? It is extremely cold in New York and there is snow all over the place. The reason I am writing is to give you the information you wanted on aluminum. I have everything you would possibly want to know about everything from mining to recycling, but I will begin with a little background on the element first.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that aluminum is the third most abundant element in the earth's crust and formed during the birth of our solar system.
- Explains that the aluminum industry was founded in 1854, but it wasn't until the late 1880's that a method was found to bring down the prices and permit aluminum to be used in many ways.
- Explains that bauxite deposits are found in tropical and subtropical climates, where heavy rainfall, warm temperatures, and good drainage encourage the weathering process.
- Describes the hall-heroult process, where molten cryolite is poured into huge pots and electric current is passed through the crust, causing the oxygen to be driven off.
- Explains that pure aluminum has working and forming properties, but it has low mechanical strength, and therefore must be strenghened by alloying. casting alloys contain silicon, magnesium, copper, zinc, or nickel.
- Explains that wrought alloys have been mechanically worked after casting, making the aluminum stronger, harder, and less ductile. both of these processes of treating aluminum are helpful for a variety of uses.
- Explains that aluminum has a variety of uses because of its properties, such as being light, resistant to corrosion, and highly conducive to electricity.
- Explains that aluminum is increasingly used to conserve energy both in home heating and cooling. aluminum storm doors, insulation, and aluminum siding are excellent insulators.
- Argues that aluminum is a potentially non-renewable resource and that recycling is cheaper than processing the bauxite. recycling costs only about five percent of the energy originally used to make aluminum.
- Recommends identifying the aluminum recycling centers in your area and asking them if they offer any assistance to groups recycling as a fund raising project.
- Recommends using the local media, newspapers, radio, and television to promote a recycling program.
- Opines that the reynolds aluminum recycling company of america, lorin industries, and the world's largest job shop anodizer of aluminum could help.
- Cites altenpohl, ammen, c. w., casting aluminum, burkin, r.
1349 wordsRead More - Aluminumexplanatory essayIn chemistry, elements found on the Periodic Table are used by chemists including aluminum. Aluminum is given the symbol Al on the periodic table and has an atomic mass number of twenty-seven (a combination of thirteen protons and fourteen neutrons). Silvery white, soft, and flexible metal, aluminum is the third most abundant element. To produce pure aluminum compounds are mined and then the compounds undergo two major processes to create pure aluminum. Once it is ready aluminum is a very important element to society in multiple ways including: in industry, transportation, design, packaging, pharmaceuticals, and construction.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that aluminum is the third most abundant element on the periodic table. to produce pure aluminum compounds are mined and then the compounds undergo two major processes.
- Explains that aluminum is most commonly produced from the ore bauxite, which is found in australia, guinea, jamaica, surinam, brazil, and india.
- Explains that bauxite ore undergoes two major processing steps to be transformed into aluminum (aluminum). the first process is called the bayer process.
- Explains the hall-héroult process, which refines alumina to form aluminum. electricity is used to separate the metal from the bauxite.
- Explains that the reduction pots are set in long lines that are hooked to electricity and molten aluminum is then drawn from the pot.
- Explains that aluminum is one of the few materials that affect every person in the country. aluminum is an essential element of everyday life.
- Explains that aluminum has multiple applications including industry, transport, design, packaging, pharmaceutics, and construction.
- Explains that all aluminum compounds to produce aluminum are found in bauxite. aluminum helps out in industry, transportation, design, packaging, pharmaceuticals, and construction.
814 wordsRead More - Lithium Nitrigexplanatory essayIntroduction Carbon Dioxide plays a major role in global warming. It is the primary greenhouse gas that is emitted by humans on a daily basis. Back in 2012, it is estimated that carbon dioxide accounted for 82% of all the greenhouse gases produced in the United States. Although carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas on Earth, it is said that human emissions are responsible for the increase of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere since the industrial revolution (www.epa.gov). Since carbon emissions have increased over the past few years, ways have been developed to limit the carbon dioxide into Earth's atmosphere.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that carbon dioxide plays a major role in global warming. it is the primary greenhouse gas emitted by humans.
- Explains that carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, could cause a raise of the average earth temperature and problematic climate changes if the acceleration is not stopped. capturing and storing carbon is an effective way to lower emissions released into the atmosphere.
- Explains that carbon storing projects need to keep carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere for thousands of years to make a noticeable difference.
- Explains that carbon dioxide is the most prominent greenhouse gas, but ways are being developed and discovered to lower our emissions into earth’s atmosphere.
- Explains that lithium nitride and carbon dioxide react to produce a heat-releasing reaction.
- Describes carbon capture and storage as the process of trapping carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels and storing it so that it is unable to affect the atmosphere.
928 wordsRead More - BPAanalytical essayIn the early morning hours of January 12th 1981, twenty-five detonations were heard coming from the ramp at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, located in the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (PR). It was a terrorist attack. The result? Ten A-7D aircrafts and a single F-104 destroyed, with a total of $45,000,000 in damages. It was the largest attack on the US military since the Vietnam War. The culprits? All members of a separatist domestic terrorist group called Ejercito Popular Boricua (English: Boricua Popular Army or BPA, EPB) more commonly known as Los Macheteros (“The Machete Wielders”); a nickname that conjures images of the improvised group of Puerto Ricans that banded together to defend and fight the United States Army when they invaded during the Spanish-American War. BPA’s main ideology is a free Puerto Rico, free from the colonial status that United States has on PR, and for PR to become its own sovereign state. Although BPA is not as active as it once was, they still promote and will fight for PR’s independence. But to understand the history and origins, ideologies, and goals of BPA we must go back in time to recognize why such a group even exists.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the terrorist attack at muiz air national guard base in 1981, which destroyed 10 a-7d aircraft and a single f-104 with $45,000,000 in damages.
- Explains that the island is used to battles and struggles for independence. the indigenous people called tanos revolted against the spaniards.
- Explains that even though the spaniards had control of the island for almost four centuries, they still faced revolts and uprisings for independence during the 19th century.
- Analyzes how filiberto ojeda ros, the founder of movimiento independentista revolucionario armado, is one of the most iconic persons of pro-independence movement.
- Explains that ojeda was born in 1933 in naguabo, puerto rico, and was recruited into the cuban intelligence service. in 1967, he created and led the first of many puerto rican militant political groups, mira.
- Explains that los macheteros is the most famous and infamous of all these names. they have been categorized as para-military, separatist movement, terrorists, and freedom fighters by some.
- Explains that los macheteros opened fire on a bus carrying unarmed sailors on december 4, 1979, killing cto1 john r. ball and rm3 emil e. white, as well as wounding nine others.
- Narrates how the group disappeared after the 1980s, when they disbanded or ceases all clandestine operations. ojeda rios was one of the most wanted criminals by the fbi during that time.
- Analyzes how guásabara used the media to expose classified information following the death of ojeda, the former leader of bpa.
- Opines that the future of los macheteros is uncertain. they have not committed an attack since 1998, when they took responsibility for the explosion at one of the power plants.
1399 wordsRead More - Silicon Arts Inc.explanatory essaySilicon Arts Inc. Silicon Arts Inc. (SAI) is a manufacturer of circuits that are used in a number of different electronic equipment (University of Phoenix, Simulation, 2006). In their first years, they saw first a huge soar in the industry, but that was swiftly followed by a 40% downfall in subsequent years. SAI dealt with this by tightly controlling their expenses. Current markets trends indicate that the industry may be on the rise. Consequently, and with the help of their new CFO, the company now wants to develop some new capital investment projects.
In this essay, the author
- Explains silicon arts inc. (sai) is a manufacturer of circuits that are used in various electronic equipment.
- Explains that it was difficult to decide between the two capital projects. both were very close in value, and what seemed to be the best choice initially wasn't always so.
- Explains that the cfo used the irr and nvp analysis to determine the cash flows for sai and their two potential projects, dig-image and w-comm.
- Explains that the cfo's job was to negotiate the best deal possible for the company.
- Explains that the third and final part of the analysis involved adjusting for risks, equalizing time frames, and calculating profitability indices.
1314 wordsRead More - Nomi Nickel Analysisanalytical essayUpon reading the first page, I knew I would like this book. The writing style is almost like a memoir; it’s in the first person from the perspective of Nomi Nickel. The first ten chapters give us a look into Nomi nickels past, her opinions, and thoughts. They show the transition of her thoughts from a straight edge Mennonite follower to a rebellious teenager. She has a dry sense of humor that is thrown into her everyday activities. It’s a surprise when it happens, like when the garbage men throw out Ray’s hutch, not only was that unexpected but Ray’s reaction was surprising. Many of the teens in the town represent a character foil. On Saturday nights they go out drinking, partying, having sex, and on Sunday they return to their strict religious
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the first ten chapters give us a look into nomi nickel's past, her opinions, and thoughts.
- Analyzes how the mouth has a tight hold on the town through the bizarre purge when he became the pastor.
- Opines that the mennonite religion was named after the founder, but one of the core beliefs is to practice humility.
595 wordsRead More - The Physics of Semiconductor Devicesexplanatory essayThe Physics of Semiconductor Devices The purpose of this paper is to give a greater understanding of the semiconductor world, for Physics 100 students who have a little knowledge of electronics. I will cover conductors, insulators, semiconductors, and the operation of a diode and a transistor. The reason that it is important to understand these devices is the vast effect that they have had on our modern world. Our lives are filled by electronics, especially in this computerized age that we live in, and I have found that a knowledge of some electronics has greatly helped my understanding of the many electronic devices that we deal with on a daily basis. To understand the physics of a semiconductor device it is first necessary to take a step back into basic electronics and establish a basis for this discussion.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the process of adding impure atoms to pure silicon crystals is called doping.
- Explains that the p type material is a very small band in the center of the transistor. the depletion region between the collector and the emitter is reverse biased from the base.
- Explains that the purpose of this paper is to give a greater understanding of the semiconductor world for physics 100 students.
- Explains how a diode is constructed, stating that the voltage flowing through it determines the size of the depletion region.
- Explains how diodes are used to convert ac power into dc or high speed switches in digital devices. the second semiconductor is the transistor.
- Illustrates how a simple transistor amplifier operates using ohms law, which is given by the equation v=ir.
- Explains how ohms law makes it possible to understand basic semiconductors and how they are used in small circuits.
2178 wordsRead More - chemicalexplanatory essayWork is not the ideal place to ponder the wonders of chemistry, but when those wonders become an obsession, you learn to make exceptions. Ever since my introduction into the world of chemistry in the tenth grade, I have been fascinated at how the entire universe is orchestrated by elements, compounds, and the inner workings of that microscopic world. So in between bagging groceries, sweeping floors, and stocking milk, my mind would wander to things such as polyatomic nomenclature, Avogadro’s number, and ionization. The curiosity that had begun in my state mandated chemistry class blossomed into a passion that helped me answer the question of what I wanted to do when I grow up. As I researched on my own and took the college credit chemistry class that my school offered, the answer to that question became clear; I wanted to be a chemical engineer.
In this essay, the author
- Describes how their curiosity in chemistry blossomed into a passion that helped them answer the question of what they wanted to do when they grow up.
- Explains that they wanted to be a chemical engineer, and that abraham lincoln said, "whatever you are, be good one." this mentality prepared them to become chemical engineers.
- Describes how they became drawn to the world of chemistry because there is always room for improvement.
- Explains that the origin of chemistry centered around one thing: becoming rich. their mother's side of the family all worked in the petrochemical industry.
- Opines that learning about the world of ionic salts and covalent bonds is a passion they want to pursue.
732 wordsRead More - Buckminsterfullerenesexplanatory essayThe discovery and development of BuckminsterFullerenes A report by Libby McConnell Introduction to carbon and basic chemistry concepts Fullerenes a modern material discovered in 1985 are essentially an allotrope of the element carbon. Carbon itself is one of the most common elements found on the earth today, the sixth most abundant in the world. Anything deemed “living” is carbon containing and naturally occurring or organic. In fact an entire subsection of chemistry is dedicated to the study of carbon related science, it is called organic chemistry.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the discovery and development of buckminsterfullerenes, an allotrope of the element carbon.
- Explains that carbon allotropes are a different combination or structure of atoms made up from the same element.
- Explains how microwave spectroscopy allowed astronomers to identify chemical compounds in interstellar material and molecular gases found in space. harry kroto, a british man, studied unusual chains of carbon in the galaxy.
553 wordsRead More - Polyethyleneexplanatory essayGerman Chemist Hans von Pechmann first synthesized Polyethylene by accident in 1898 by heating diazomethane. His colleagues characterized the waxy substance polyethylene due to the fact that they recognized that it consisted of long ethene chains. It was then first industrially synthesized by accident in 1933 by applying extremely high pressure to ethylene and benzaldehyde. Over the years, development of polyethylene has increased due to the additions of catalyst. This makes ethylene polymerization possible at lower temperatures and pressures.1
In this essay, the author
- Explains that people have moved away from landfill dumping and moved towards recycling because it is much more cost effective than paying engineers and environmentalists to design landfills.
- Explains that many people don't recycle polyethylene because it's cheap to make and does not biodegrade.
- Opines that the recycling of polyethylene is increasing and more people are becoming aware of the problem that it posses today.
- Describes juliet lapidos' thoughts on the future of plastic bags.
- Explains that the waxy substance polyethylene was first synthesized by accident in 1898 by heating diazomethane.
- Explains how polymers are recycled and what are the end products of the recycling process. many stores around california are starting to accept bags made from ldpe.
1414 wordsRead More