Write a descriptive text and a word equation on how silicon is extracted from earth's crust' .
Silicon, the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, is widely used in various industries for its unique properties. Extracting silicon from the Earth's crust involves several essential steps.
First, silicon dioxide, commonly found as quartz or sand, is selected as the primary source for silicon extraction. The quartz is crushed into a fine powder and purified to remove impurities such as iron and other minerals. This purification process ensures that the resulting silicon is of high quality.
Next, the pure silicon dioxide is mixed with carbon in the form of coke or charcoal. The mixture is then placed in an electric arc furnace or a submerged arc furnace, where temperatures can reach as high as 2,000 to 2,500 degrees Celsius. The intense heat generated in the furnace causes a chemical reaction between silicon dioxide and carbon, resulting in the formation of silicon and gaseous carbon monoxide.
The chemical equation for the extraction of silicon from silicon dioxide is as follows:
SiO2 + 2C → Si + 2CO
In this equation, SiO2 represents silicon dioxide, 2C represents carbon, Si represents silicon, and 2CO represents carbon monoxide. The reaction between silicon dioxide and carbon yields silicon and carbon monoxide as the main products.
Once the reaction is complete, the silicon is further refined to remove any remaining impurities. The refined silicon is then shaped into ingots or granules, ready to be used in various applications such as electronics, solar panels, and semiconductors.
In summary, the extraction of silicon from the Earth's crust involves crushing and purifying quartz, mixing it with carbon, and subjecting the mixture to high temperatures in a furnace to facilitate a chemical reaction that yields silicon and carbon monoxide. This silicon is then refined and transformed into usable forms for various industrial purposes.