Which element has the symbol Si and is widely used in computer chips?

• A. Magnesium
• B. Silicon
• C. Sodium
• D. Neon

Answer: (B)

Silicon’s role as a semiconductor is what makes it essential for computer chips. Its electrical conductivity can be tuned by adding tiny amounts of other elements, creating n-type and p-type regions that form the transistors the circuits rely on to switch and amplify signals.

The crystalline form of silicon also supports a native oxide layer, silicon dioxide, which is a superb insulator. This insulating layer can be grown very uniformly on the silicon surface and serves as the gate oxide in transistors, helping to control current precisely and allowing complex, reliable manufacturing processes.

Plus, silicon is abundant in Earth’s crust, which keeps material costs reasonable, and decades of development have optimized silicon-based fabrication techniques for producing extremely dense, reliable integrated circuits.

So, the element with the symbol Si is Silicon, the material widely used in computer chips.