Brief Description:
The second most abundant element, silicon makes up 25.7% of the weight of the earth's crust. Silicon is found in stars, planets, and aerolite meteorites, being found mostly as oxides such as sand, quartz, and other crystalline substances. Silicon is important to animals and plants, as plants absorb silica from water to reenforce their cellular walls. Silicon is also a key component of steel. It is also widely used in electronics, as it is an inexpensive semiconductor.