Is Silicon Shiny or Dull?
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In its pure, crystalline form, silicon has a distinctive shiny, metallic lustre. It looks very much like a polished metal.
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When exposed to air, it quickly forms a thin layer of silicon dioxide (silica) on its surface, which can dull its shine over time.
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The commercial "silicon metal" product, which is a broken-up, polycrystalline mass, retains this shiny, reflective quality on its freshly broken surfaces, giving it a overall glistening, metallic appearance.
In summary: Silicon is a shiny, brittle metalloid that is abundant, not precious. It is overwhelmingly used to make aluminum alloys, silicones, and the computer chips and solar panels that define modern technology. Its value lies in its chemical and semiconductor properties, not its structural strength.