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14

Si

Silicon

Atomic Mass

28.085

Element Profile

SILICON

Metalloid

CoreGenesis 12 ActiveQ2 2026 Reviewed

Silicon is foundational to semiconductors, solar power, electronics, sensors, and digital infrastructure.

Launch Engine

Periodic Context

Current elementConnected elementsGenesis 12 active
H
HeLi
Be
B
C
N
O
F
Ne
Na
Mg
Al
Si
P
S
Cl
Ar
K
Ca
Sc
Ti
V
Cr
Mn
Fe
CoNiCu
Zn
GaGe
As
Se
Br
Kr
Rb
Sr
Y
Zr
Nb
Mo
Tc
Ru
Rh
Pd
Ag
Cd
In
Sn
Sb
Te
I
Xe
Cs
Ba
La
Ce
Pr
Nd
Pm
Sm
Eu
Gd
Tb
Dy
Ho
Er
Tm
Yb
Lu
Hf
TaW
Re
Os
Ir
Pt
Au
Hg
Tl
Pb
Bi
Po
At
Rn
Fr
Ra
Ac
Th
Pa
U
Np
Pu
Am
Cm
Bk
Cf
Es
Fm
Md
No
Lr
Rf
Db
Sg
Bh
Hs
Mt
Ds
Rg
Cn
Nh
Fl
Mc
Lv
Ts
Og

Silicon connects to wafers, chips, solar, electronics, and semiconductor infrastructure.

Fiji: modeled context not active yetTanzania: modeled context not active yetW. Sahara: modeled context not active yetCanada: modeled context not active yetUnited States of America: modeled supply contextKazakhstan: modeled context not active yetUzbekistan: modeled context not active yetPapua New Guinea: modeled context not active yetIndonesia: modeled context not active yetArgentina: modeled context not active yetChile: modeled context not active yetDem. Rep. Congo: modeled context not active yetSomalia: modeled context not active yetKenya: modeled context not active yetSudan: modeled context not active yetChad: modeled context not active yetHaiti: modeled context not active yetDominican Rep.: modeled context not active yetRussia: modeled supply contextBahamas: modeled context not active yetFalkland Is.: modeled context not active yetNorway: modeled context not active yetGreenland: modeled context not active yetFr. S. Antarctic Lands: modeled context not active yetTimor-Leste: modeled context not active yetSouth Africa: modeled context not active yetLesotho: modeled context not active yetMexico: modeled context not active yetUruguay: modeled context not active yetBrazil: modeled context not active yetBolivia: modeled context not active yetPeru: modeled context not active yetColombia: modeled context not active yetPanama: modeled context not active yetCosta Rica: modeled context not active yetNicaragua: modeled context not active yetHonduras: modeled context not active yetEl Salvador: modeled context not active yetGuatemala: modeled context not active yetBelize: modeled context not active yetVenezuela: modeled context not active yetGuyana: modeled context not active yetSuriname: modeled context not active yetFrance: modeled context not active yetEcuador: modeled context not active yetPuerto Rico: modeled context not active yetJamaica: modeled context not active yetCuba: modeled context not active yetZimbabwe: modeled context not active yetBotswana: modeled context not active yetNamibia: modeled context not active yetSenegal: modeled context not active yetMali: modeled context not active yetMauritania: modeled context not active yetBenin: modeled context not active yetNiger: modeled context not active yetNigeria: modeled context not active yetCameroon: modeled context not active yetTogo: modeled context not active yetGhana: modeled context not active yetCôte d'Ivoire: modeled context not active yetGuinea: modeled context not active yetGuinea-Bissau: modeled context not active yetLiberia: modeled context not active yetSierra Leone: modeled context not active yetBurkina Faso: modeled context not active yetCentral African Rep.: modeled context not active yetCongo: modeled context not active yetGabon: modeled context not active yetEq. Guinea: modeled context not active yetZambia: modeled context not active yetMalawi: modeled context not active yetMozambique: modeled context not active yeteSwatini: modeled context not active yetAngola: modeled context not active yetBurundi: modeled context not active yetIsrael: modeled context not active yetLebanon: modeled context not active yetMadagascar: modeled context not active yetPalestine: modeled context not active yetGambia: modeled context not active yetTunisia: modeled context not active yetAlgeria: modeled context not active yetJordan: modeled context not active yetUnited Arab Emirates: modeled context not active yetQatar: modeled context not active yetKuwait: modeled context not active yetIraq: modeled context not active yetOman: modeled context not active yetVanuatu: modeled context not active yetCambodia: modeled context not active yetThailand: modeled context not active yetLaos: modeled context not active yetMyanmar: modeled context not active yetVietnam: modeled context not active yetNorth Korea: modeled context not active yetSouth Korea: modeled supply contextMongolia: modeled context not active yetIndia: modeled context not active yetBangladesh: modeled context not active yetBhutan: modeled context not active yetNepal: modeled context not active yetPakistan: modeled context not active yetAfghanistan: modeled context not active yetTajikistan: modeled context not active yetKyrgyzstan: modeled context not active yetTurkmenistan: modeled context not active yetIran: modeled context not active yetSyria: modeled context not active yetArmenia: modeled context not active yetSweden: modeled context not active yetBelarus: modeled context not active yetUkraine: modeled context not active yetPoland: modeled context not active yetAustria: modeled context not active yetHungary: modeled context not active yetMoldova: modeled context not active yetRomania: modeled context not active yetLithuania: modeled context not active yetLatvia: modeled context not active yetEstonia: modeled context not active yetGermany: modeled supply contextBulgaria: modeled context not active yetGreece: modeled context not active yetTurkey: modeled context not active yetAlbania: modeled context not active yetCroatia: modeled context not active yetSwitzerland: modeled context not active yetLuxembourg: modeled context not active yetBelgium: modeled context not active yetNetherlands: modeled context not active yetPortugal: modeled context not active yetSpain: modeled context not active yetIreland: modeled context not active yetNew Caledonia: modeled context not active yetSolomon Is.: modeled context not active yetNew Zealand: modeled context not active yetAustralia: modeled context not active yetSri Lanka: modeled context not active yetChina: modeled supply contextTaiwan: modeled supply contextItaly: modeled context not active yetDenmark: modeled context not active yetUnited Kingdom: modeled context not active yetIceland: modeled context not active yetAzerbaijan: modeled context not active yetGeorgia: modeled context not active yetPhilippines: modeled context not active yetMalaysia: modeled context not active yetBrunei: modeled context not active yetSlovenia: modeled context not active yetFinland: modeled context not active yetSlovakia: modeled context not active yetCzechia: modeled context not active yetEritrea: modeled context not active yetJapan: modeled supply contextParaguay: modeled context not active yetYemen: modeled context not active yetSaudi Arabia: modeled context not active yetN. Cyprus: modeled context not active yetCyprus: modeled context not active yetMorocco: modeled context not active yetEgypt: modeled context not active yetLibya: modeled context not active yetEthiopia: modeled context not active yetDjibouti: modeled context not active yetSomaliland: modeled context not active yetUganda: modeled context not active yetRwanda: modeled context not active yetBosnia and Herz.: modeled context not active yetMacedonia: modeled context not active yetSerbia: modeled context not active yetMontenegro: modeled context not active yetKosovo: modeled context not active yetTrinidad and Tobago: modeled context not active yetS. Sudan: modeled context not active yet
China

Silicon materials and solar supply chain

United States

Chip design, AI demand, semiconductor systems

Map Legend

Critical concentration
Production / source node
Processing / manufacturing

Key Takeaway

Silicon is abundant, but strategic risk appears in purification, wafers, fabs, solar supply chains, and advanced electronics ecosystems.

Modeled intelligence. Not government data.

Silicon

Element Intelligence

How Silicon functions across real-world systems and future Periodic Engine economy layers.

Element Overview

Silicon is a metalloid used in semiconductors, solar cells, sensors, glass, silicones, and power electronics.

OverviewMaterial Input

Sector Exposure

Silicon connects AI chips, data centers, solar power, telecom, sensors, defense electronics, and industrial systems.

Industry ExposureSystems

Supply Risk

Silicon’s raw abundance lowers mining risk, but strategic exposure appears in purification, wafers, chips, and solar manufacturing.

Supply RiskProcessing

Engine Utility

Silicon functions as a civilization backbone material for computing, energy, sensing, and digital infrastructure.

Engine InputDependency

Future Token Role

Silicon tokens can represent chip capacity, solar manufacturing, wafer supply, power electronics, and AI infrastructure dependency.

Supply ClaimEconomy Layer

Comparative Relevance

Silicon has the highest civilization impact of the Genesis 12 set, but lower raw-material scarcity than Gallium or Germanium.

ComparativeGenesis 12

Modeled Intelligence Scorecard

Overall Score

87/100

High

Rising

Supply Risk

60/100

Medium

Monitored

Strategic Value

92/100

Very High

Future Relevance

94/100

Very High

Substitution Risk

92/100

Medium High

Application-specific

Industry Exposure

Very High

Multi-sector

Policy Sensitivity

Medium

Monitored

Confidence

Medium

Reviewed

Scores are modeled intelligence scores, not official government scores.•Source-backed methodology.•Reviewed Q2 2026.

Pro

Reviewed Evidence Context

Reviewed Pro evidence summaries behind this element profile.

Silicon (Si)

Claim support summaries

See how reviewed public-safe context supports element intelligence.

Confidence and review status

Understand confidence levels and latest review signals.

Source discipline context

Broad source categories that inform the evidence.

Evidence summaries support interpretation of modeled intelligence. They do not expose scoring formulas, source-to-score mapping, reviewer notes, or internal source architecture.

Request Pro Access Request Briefing

Evidence summaries support interpretation, not official ratings.

Fact Box

Chemistry

Atomic Number14
Atomic Mass28.085 u
Group14
Period3
Blockp-block
State at 20°CSolid
Melting Point1414 °C
Boiling Point3265 °C
Density2.3296 g/cm³
Electron Configuration[Ne] 3s² 3p²
CAS Number7440-21-3
Key Isotopes²⁸Si, ²⁹Si, ³⁰Si

Fact Box

Strategic

Modeled StatusCore
Genesis 12 StatusActive
Overall Score89 / 100
Supply Risk60 / 100
Substitution Risk70 / 100
Strategic Value92 / 100
Future Relevance94 / 100
Primary IndustriesSemiconductors, Solar, AI Infrastructure, Telecom
ReviewedQ2 2026
ConfidenceHigh

Why Silicon Matters

Silicon matters because it is the base material of the digital economy: chips, sensors, solar panels, power electronics, fiber optics, and industrial electronics all depend on silicon-derived systems.

Semiconductors

Chips, processors, memory, electronics

Solar Power

Photovoltaic cells and manufacturing

AI Infrastructure

Chips and data center electronics

Telecom

Fiber optics, photonics, equipment

Industrial Systems

Sensors, power electronics, controls

Uses & Strategic Relevance

Integrated circuits

Primary substrate for logic and memory chips.

Solar photovoltaics

Wafer material for most solar panels.

Power electronics

Switching devices for power conversion and control.

Metallurgical alloys

Alloying element in aluminum and steel production.

Supply-Chain Risk

Production ConcentrationMedium
Processing ConcentrationMedium High for high-purity and solar
Import ExposureMedium depending on product class
By-product DependenceLow
Recycling MaturityLimited for high-purity recovery
Substitution DifficultyMedium High in chips and solar
Policy SensitivityMedium

Risk Summary

Abundant feedstock with concentrated high-purity processing.

Supply-Chain Flow

source

Quartz / silica

China

source

Quartz / silica

China

source

Quartz / silica

China

source

Quartz / silica

China

processing

Metallurgical-grade smelting

China

Silicon abundance does not remove strategic risk in high-purity and advanced manufacturing layers.

Substitution Difficulty

Use CasePossible Substitute(s)TradeoffDifficulty
Logic chipsCompound semiconductors for niche usesCost, scale, manufacturing ecosystemHigh
Solar cellsThin-film PV, perovskites, CdTeMaturity, scale, durability, supply chainMedium High
Power electronicsSiC, GaNHigher performance but different cost and supply profileMedium
SensorsIII-V materials, MEMS alternativesApplication-specific tradeoffsMedium
Industrial electronicsAlternative semiconductor materialsCost and ecosystem tradeoffsMedium High

Connected Elements

Elements often analyzed alongside Silicon.

GaGalliumPaired across semiconductor substrates and compound devices.GeGermaniumCombined in SiGe layers for high-speed electronics.CuCopperData center powerTaTantalumCapacitorsAlAluminumSilicon is a primary alloying element in cast aluminum.HeHeliumHelium is a process and cooling gas in chip fabrication.LiLithiumEnergy storageREERare EarthsEquipment, magnets

How to Read This Profile

Periodic Engine modeled intelligence scores combine public source data, industry insights, supply-chain analysis, and technology relevance to assess strategic importance and risk.

Source Categories

USGS

U.S. Geological Survey

DOE

U.S. Department of Energy

IEA

International Energy Agency

EU Commission

EU Commission

PubChem

Chemical database

NIST

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Industry

Industry reports & associations

View Methodology
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Germanium (Ge)

Atomic Number 32

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