Difference Between Silicon and Carbon

Silicon has the same number of electrons in its outer shell, meaning that it can form four bonds just like carbon. ... Si-H bonds and Si-O bonds are stronger than Si-Si bonds, whereas the carbon analogs for all three of these types of bonds are nearly equal in strength.

1. How is Silicon different from carbon?
2. Is Silicon stronger than carbon?
3. Is Silicon carbon based?
4. Do carbon and silicon have similar properties?
5. Are humans a carbon based life form?
6. Why is silicon so important?
7. Is carbon a life?
8. Can we run out of silicon?
9. What if humans were silicon based?
10. Why is life based on carbon?
11. Why are we made of carbon?
12. Why is life based on carbon and not silicon?

How is Silicon different from carbon?

Silicon is only a little bit more metallic than carbon because it loses its electrons a little more easily. They both have a valence of 4. Carbon and silicon almost have the same density, with silicon having 2.3 grams per cubic centimeter and carbon having 2.2 grams per cubic centimeter.

Is Silicon stronger than carbon?

Although silicon might normally have atoms bonded to each of its 4 sides, just like carbon, the silicon bond isn't as strong as the carbon bond because the outer orbital of silicon often lacks a full complement of electrons, even when it's bonded to other atoms.

Is Silicon carbon based?

Silicon is close to carbon in the periodic table, it has a valency of 4 (the same as carbon) and so each atom could in principle form bonds with up to 4 other atoms and could also therefore apparently be a building block a bit like carbon - and so may in principle be able to form similar structures, one might think.

Do carbon and silicon have similar properties?

Indeed, carbon and silicon share many characteristics. Each has a so-called valence of four--meaning that individual atoms make four bonds with other elements in forming chemical compounds. Each element bonds to oxygen. Each forms long chains, called polymers, in which it alternates with oxygen.

Are humans a carbon based life form?

The short answer is… yes! Carbon atoms form the “backbone” of almost all the important biological molecules floating around in our bodies (except water, of course.) Therefore, when we say life is “carbon based,” we mean that our skin, hair and cells are all made out of molecules that contain large amounts of carbon.

Why is silicon so important?

Silicon is used for electronic devices because it is an element with very special properties. One of it's most important properties is that it is a semiconductor. This means that it conducts electricity under some conditions and acts as an insulator under others.

Is carbon a life?

We live on a carbon planet and we are carbon life. Every chemical element is special, but some elements are more special than others. Of all the periodic table's richly varied denizens, carbon, the sixth element, is unique in its impact on our lives.

Can we run out of silicon?

Silicon is the second most common element on Earth. But there are only a few beaches where silicon is mined. So running out of Si is unlikely, but running out of easy to process silicon could happen. Lower quality sand substitutes could be use, but would cost more to refine.

What if humans were silicon based?

Carbon readily bonds with oxygen, forming carbon dioxide (CO2), a small gaseous molecule that we humans exhale. Whereas silicon forms silicon dioxide (SiO2) with oxygen, which is a gigantic molecule commonly known as sand. Imagine, if we were silicon-based living organisms, we would probably be exhaling sand.

Why is life based on carbon?

Life on Earth is based on carbon, likely because each carbon atom can form bonds with up to four other atoms simultaneously. This quality makes carbon well-suited to form the long chains of molecules that serve as the basis for life as we know it, such as proteins and DNA.

Why are we made of carbon?

The main one being carbon. It would be impossible for life on earth to exist without carbon. Carbon is the main component of sugars, proteins, fats, DNA, muscle tissue, pretty much everything in your body. The reason carbon is so special is down to the electron configuration of the individual atoms.

Why is life based on carbon and not silicon?

So, a carbon–oxygen bond, being of similar strength to other carbon bonds, can easily swap out atoms, resulting in a chemical reaction. In the case of silicon, the silicon–oxygen bond—the first bond—is so strong that it's very hard to break them apart. ... This is the reason why carbon is the basis of life and not silicon.