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Silicon is the second most common element on the planet earth. It makes up about 26% of the planet's surface, and is more abundant than every other element except oxygen. It is also found in stars and certain meteorites. Silicon is dark gray in color, with a slight bluish tinge. It is most often found as silicon oxides such as sand (silica), quartz, rock crystal, amethyst, agate, flint, jasper and opal
Silicon is prepared commercially by heating silica and carbon in an electric furnace, using carbon electrodes. Several other methods can be used for preparing the element. Amorphous silicon can be prepared as a brown powder, which can be easily melted or vaporized. The Czochralski process is commonly used to produce single crystals of silicon used for solid-state or semiconductor devices. Hyperpure silicon can be prepared by the thermal decomposition of ultra-pure trichlorosilane in a hydrogen atmosphere, and by a vacuum float zone process.
