Silicon does not exist on its own in nature. Most of it is bound with oxygen
in materials like sand and quartzite and granite rock. The silicon-oxygen bond
in quartz is so stable it can only be broken by white heat!
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Silicon producers reduce high-grade quartz sand to elemental silicon via a
carbo-thermic smelting process:
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This reaction occurs in an electric furnace at <1,400°C
(<2,600°F).
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The carbon monoxide gas (g) leaves the furnace so the silicon cannot react
with the carbon to form silicon dioxide.
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The molten elemental silicon, which is about 99 percent pure, is then
cooled and broken into lumps.
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When used in silicone production, the silicon is ground into a fine powder
to increase the surface area available for reactions.
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Did you know ... most silicon smelting plants run on renewable
hydroelectric power rather than fossil fuels!
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