The Disappearing Spoon
By: Abriana Lane
Chapter 2
During this chapter it talks about carbon and how carbon can share it's electrons with up to four other atoms at once which allows carbon to make complex chains. Also that carbon is compatible with the element beside it which is Silicon and not the ones that are above it or below it, But just because they are similar does not mean that silicon can do the same things carbon can and vise versa. Like how silicon can have more electrons which would be like carbon but with an extra 50 pounds add on.
At the end of the chapter Sam Kean talks about the element germanium and how germanium is the black sheep and the no luck element. Since 1945 the use of germanium was almost obsolete because the transistor industry had tanked.
Carbon (C)
Atomic Mass: 12.001
Period: 2 Group: 14
electron Configuration: 1s(2) 2s(2) 2p(2)
Classification: Nonmetal
Geographically found: most of carbon is found anywhere
Why is it important: Carbon forms the key component for all known life on Earth
Discovered: Was found as charcoal in the prehistoric period but no one will probably ever know who found carbon.
Unique characteristics: Since all carbons are the same they can link with other carbons to make long links or rings.
Silicon (Si)
Atomic Mass:28.085
period: 3 group 14
Electron Configuration: 1s(2) 2s(2) 2p(6) 3s(2) 3p(2)
Classification: metalloids
Geographically found: mostly found in the Untied States
Discovered:It was discovered in 1824 by the Swedish chemist Jons Jakob Berzelius.
Unique Characteristics: Silicon also has the unusual property that (like water) it expands as it freezes
Germanium (Ge)
Atomic Mass:72.63
Electron Configuration: 1s(2) 2s(2) 2p(6) 3s(2) 3p(6) 4s(2) 3d(10) 4p(2)
Classification: metalloids
Geographically found: you can find it either in Belgium, China, and Russia.
Discovered:Germanium was discovered in 1886 by the German chemist Clemens A. Winkler but in 1871 a chemist Mendeleev had predicted this new element would have properties that are like silicon
Unique Characteristics:germanium is mostly used as a semiconductor