Silicon is a chemical element, a hard, gray substance found in sand and rock, widely used to make computer chips and electronic devices. It is not the same as silicone, which is a flexible, rubbery material.
“Silicon” was coined in the early 19th century from Latin “silex” or “silicis,” meaning flint, plus the element-forming suffix “-on.” It was named because it is a major part of flint and sand. The spelling parallels other non-metal elements like carbon and boron.
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