Ted Sosiak, age 11, of St. Catharines,, Ont., for his question:

What is silicon?

Young science students may confuse silicon with silica. Silicon i s a non metalic element never found in nature in pure form. Combined with other elements it is the second most abundant element in the earth's crust. Most of these compounds are silicas, or silicon dioxides. Quart, sand and flint are but a few of the silica minerals.

Pure silicon can be made from silica minerals in the laboratory. It may be formed as grey crystals or as a dark brown powder. The atomic 'number of this element is 14, which means that the silicon atom has 14 protons of positive electricity in its nucleus and 14 orbiting electrons each bearing a charge of negative electricity.