How many protons does silicon have?

Silicon has 14 protons and 14 electrons. The symbol for this element is Si, and it belongs to group 14 on the periodic table. While its melting point is 1414 degrees Celsius, its boiling point is approximately 3265 degrees Celsius.

Silicon is gray in color, and it also is a metalloid or semi-metal. Metalloids are elements that exhibit properties of both non-metals and metals.

The chemist Jons Berzelius discovered this element in 1824. In nature, silicon is obtained mainly from sand and other substances like quartz. The Earth’s crust also is abundant in this element. Some common uses for silicon are in the manufacturing of microchips, semiconductors, glass and silica gel.