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Silicon is a natural element found in sand and used for semiconductors, while silicone is a man-made substance derived from silicon used for industrial applications, cookware, and medical implants. Silicone is non-toxic and flexible, but controversial in breast augmentation surgery.
While it may seem that the words silicone and silicone can be used interchangeably, there are some significant differences between them. Silicon is a naturally occurring chemical element found in great abundance on Earth, primarily as a major component of ordinary sand. Silicon is generally found in crystalline form. Silicone is a man-made substance derived from silicon and other chemicals and can be a liquid or a rubber-like plastic polymer.
One major difference between silicon and silicone is their commercial use. Pure silicon is an ideal semiconductor, like the more expensive element germanium. It is possible to heat molten silicon and then form it into wafers. These semiconductor wafers can then be used as the basis for the complex, microscopic electronic circuits needed for computer processing. This relationship between silicon and the tech industry inspired the nickname for the high-tech region of California known as Silicon Valley.
Silicone, on the other hand, is used for a number of other industrial applications. Liquid silicone is often used, for example, as a lubricant for machine parts. A thicker form of rubberized silicone can also be used as a waterproof sealant around windows and other gaps. Cured silicone is flexible, moisture resistant, and transparent.
Silicon and silicone are both used to create fireproof or heat resistant products but silicon is generally used to create ceramic glaze, glass or brick while silicone is used to create heat resistant kitchen aids. Many cooks rely on silicone-based oven mitts, tongs, pot holders, and handles to prevent burns and scalds. Silicone also possesses non-stick qualities, so it can be formed into flexible cookware such as muffin pans and cake pans.
Silicone is also chemically inert and considered to be of low toxicity to humans. This makes it an ideal material for medical implants, especially as a fluid used to fill prosthetic pouches during breast augmentation surgery. This practice of using silicone as an alternative to saline has become quite controversial in recent years, as a number of patients have reported serious medical complications following rupture of silicone-filled breast implants.
In short, the difference between silicon and silicone is that silicon is a naturally occurring chemical element, whereas silicone is one of many man-made products derived from silicon. Silicon is generally found in solid crystalline form such as sand or glass, while silicone can be a liquid lubricant, semi-solid adhesive, or rubber-like plastic polymer.
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