Changes: Silicon

Revision as of 23:14, 4 July 2015

Silicon is a common element present in stars and is a principal component of meteorites known as aerolites. It is also a component of tektites, a natural glass of uncertain origin, but believed by some to be ejected lunar material from Tycho crater (the current site of Tycho City). Along with germanium, it was a primary component in the production of transistors. (TNG: "Home Soil") Silicon makes up 25.7 percent of the Earth's crust, by mass, and is the second most abundant element, being exceeded only by oxygen.

Lifeforms

The Organians watched a planet for ten thousand years, because it contained a silicon-based virus. They used the reactions of species that encountered it to determine the level of intelligence of that species, because carbon-based lifeforms cannot naturally defend against silicon. Among the species which the Organians observed with this silicon virus were Klingons, Cardassians and Humans. (ENT: "Observer Effect")

Silicon-based lifeforms were considered total fantasy by the Federation until the discovery of the Horta on Janus VI on stardate 3196. A silicon-based lifeform cannot survive in a Class M atmosphere for more than brief periods of time. They are also much less susceptible to phaser fire than carbon-based lifeforms; a shot at full power from an adapted type 2 phaser is capable of only mildly damaging one. (TOS: "The Devil in the Dark")

Another at least partially silicon-based lifeform was the microbrain of Velara III. It consisted of several inorganic elements and compounds, including silicon. (TNG: "Home Soil")

Even though silicon is a group IV element that lies directly below carbon in the periodic table of elements, thus sharing many chemical characteristics with carbon, its biochemistry is very different than that of carbon, rendering it limited in processing the many chemical processes needed for life as known.

External links

Silicon at Memory Beta, the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
Silicon at Wikipedia

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Sidebar element|
-{| class="wiki-sidebar"
+| Name              = Silicon
-|-
+| Symbol            = Si
-| class="odd" | Name:
+| ANum              = 14
-| class="even" | Silicon
+}}
-|-
+'''Silicon''' is a common [[element]] present in [[star]]s and is a principal component of [[meteor|meteorites]] known as aerolites.  It is also a component of tektites, a natural [[glass]] of uncertain origin, but believed by some to be ejected [[luna]]r material from Tycho crater (the current site of [[Tycho City]]).  Along with [[germanium]], it was a primary component in the production of [[transistor]]s. ({{TNG|Home Soil}})  Silicon makes up 25.7 percent of the [[Earth]]'s [[crust]], by mass, and is the second most abundant element, being exceeded only by [[oxygen]].
-| class="odd" | Symbol:
+== Lifeforms ==
-| class="even" | Si
+The [[Organian]]s watched a [[planet]] for ten thousand years, because it contained a [[silicon-based virus]]. They used the reactions of species that encountered it to determine the level of intelligence of that species, because [[carbon-based lifeform]]s cannot naturally defend against silicon. Among the species which the Organians observed with this silicon [[virus]] were [[Klingon]]s, [[Cardassian]]s and [[Human]]s. ({{ENT|Observer Effect}})
-|-
-| class="odd" | Atomic Numer:
-| class="even" | 14
-|}
+[[Silicon-based lifeform]]s were considered total fantasy by the [[Federation]] until the discovery of the [[Horta]] on [[Janus VI]] on [[2267|stardate 3196]].  A silicon-based lifeform cannot survive in a [[Class M]] atmosphere for more than brief periods of time.  They are also much less susceptible to [[phaser]] fire than [[carbon]]-based lifeforms; a shot at full power from an adapted [[type 2 phaser]] is capable of only mildly damaging one. ({{TOS|The Devil in the Dark}})
-'''Silicon''' is a common [[element]] present in [[star]]s and is a principal component of [[meteor|meteorites]] known as aerolites.  It is also a component of tektites, a natural [[glass]] of uncertain origin, but believed by some to be ejected [[luna]]r material from Tycho crater (the current site of [[Tycho City]]).  Silicon makes up 25.7 percent of the [[Earth]]'s crust, by mass, and is the second most abundant element, being exceeded only by [[oxygen]].
+Another at least partially silicon-based [[lifeform]] was the [[microbrain]] of [[Velara III]].  It consisted of several [[inorganic]] elements and compounds, including silicon. ({{TNG|Home Soil}})
-The [[Organian]]s watched a [[planet]] for ten thousand years, because it contained a [[silicon-based virus]]. They used the reactions of species that encountered it to determine the level of intelligence of that species, because [[carbon]]-based [[lifeform]]s cannot naturally defend against silicon. Among the species which the Organians observed with this silicon [[virus]] were [[Klingon]]s, [[Cardassian]]s and [[Human]]s. ({{ENT|Observer Effect}})
+{{bginfo|Even though silicon is a group IV element that lies directly below carbon in the periodic table of elements, thus sharing many chemical characteristics with carbon, its biochemistry is very different than that of carbon, rendering it limited in processing the many chemical processes needed for life as known.}}
-[[Silicon-based lifeforms]] were considered total fantasy by the [[Federation]] until the discovery of the [[Horta]] on [[Janus VI]] on [[2267|stardate 3196]].  A silicon-based lifeform cannot survive in a [[Class M]] atmosphere for more than brief periods of time.  They are also much less susceptible to [[phaser]] fire than [[carbon]]-based lifeforms; a shot at full power from an adapted [[type 2 phaser]] is capable of only mildly damaging one. ({{TOS|The Devil in the Dark}})
+== Related links ==
-:''Silicon-based life is actually unlikely. Silicon is very limited in the many chemical processes needed for life, whereas carbon, in all its multiple forms, can perform them much more efficiently.'' ("Earth & Sky" radio science program)
+* [[Bioactive silicon]]
+* [[Disilicon polymer]]
+* [[Polysilicate verterium]]
+* [[Silica]]
+* [[Silicate]]
+* [[Silicon-based liquid]]
+* [[Silicon-based parasite]]
+* [[Silicon nodule]]
+* [[Thermal concrete]]
-== External link ==
+==External links==
+* {{mbeta}}
 * {{wikipedia}}
-[[Category:Elements]]
 [[de:Silizium]]
+[[Category:Elements]]