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Silicon is one of the most important elements in the periodic table. From its abundance in the earth's crust to its quintessential presence in modern electronic devices - Silicon has been with the human race since its earliest stages of development. Named originally by Sir Humphry Davy, Silicon was first isolated by Jons Jacob Berzelius in the early nineteenth century. The twentieth century saw development of MOSFET (metal oxide silicon field effect transistors). Silicon is used in steel production as well in the manufacture of abrasives. Ferrosilicon is an important alloy in metallurgical industry. Today there are silicon valleys, forests, hills, glens, and fens in different parts of the developed world bearing witness to the importance of the element in our lives.
More info about the International Year of the Periodic Table (IYPT) in crystals project:
This project (#IYPTCrystals) is part of the International Year of the Periodic Table celebration (#IYPT2019), read more about the project here. You can follow us on social media using #IYPTCrystals and learn more about the wonders of crystals by following the CCDC on Twitter @ccdc_cambridge on Facebook ccdc.cambridge, on Instagram ccdc_cambridge or on YouTube CCDCCambridge.
If you want to find out more about some of the terms and concepts we have a Frequently Asked Questions Page.