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silicon dioxide
Also known as: silica, quartz
Facts (10)
Sources
Does Life Need to Be Carbon-Based? - Reasons to Believe reasons.org Oct 28, 2016 6 facts
claimProposed alternative solvents for life include sulfuric acid, methane/ethane, hydrogen fluoride, sodium chloride, and silicon dioxide.
claimExtreme temperatures associated with solvents like sodium chloride or silicon dioxide would require molecules formed from elements other than carbon, such as silicon, oxygen, or aluminum.
claimSilicon dioxide exists as a crystalline solid with a high melting point because silicon atoms are too large to form stable double bonds with oxygen, leading to ionic bonds where oxygen atoms form bridges between silicon atoms.
claimSilicon dioxide, also known as silica, is the most abundant compound in Earth's crust and is a major component of sand.
measurementSodium chloride melts above 1500°F, and silicon dioxide melts above 2900°F.
claimSilicon is not found in a free state on Earth because it reacts strongly with oxygen to form silicon dioxide or other silicates.
Hypothetical types of biochemistry - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org 2 facts
measurementSilicon dioxide has a melting point of 1,600 to 1,725 °C (2,912 to 3,137 °F), which makes the formation of organic compounds impossible at that temperature because they would decompose.
claimSilicon dioxide, also known as silica and quartz, is abundant in the universe and possesses a large temperature range in which it remains liquid.
Alternative Biochemistries: Speculations about Strange Possibilities pressbooks.cuny.edu 1 fact
claimSilicon dioxide is a solid at standard conditions, making it much harder for a hypothetical silicon-based organism to dispose of as a waste product compared to carbon dioxide, which is a gas.
Recent breakthroughs in the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass ... pubs.rsc.org Jun 7, 2025 1 fact
referenceH. Kuru Mutlu investigated the production of high-strength tiles using yellow clay with high silicon dioxide content and analyzed its properties in ultraviolet and visible regions in a 2024 study published in Case Studies in Construction Materials.