Like the element immediately below it on the periodic table, when this element is surrounded by only hydrogen atoms, the resulting molecule acts as a high temperature supercon
Like the element immediately below it on the periodic table, when this element is surrounded by only hydrogen atoms, the resulting molecule acts as a high temperature superconducting solid at high pressures. It is commonly purified by reacting it with HCl to produce its trichloro form, and decomposing that molecule to deposit this element on heated rods, a process which can reduce impurities to less than 1 part per billion. That process is named after Siemens. One material with an extremely low glass transition temperature of below -125 degrees Celsius contains methyl side chains and a backbone made of oxygen alternating with this element. That polymer is widely used in shampoos and is cross-linked with boric acid to form silly putty. For 10 points, name this element located directly below carbon on the periodic table, a metalloid used in most computer chips.
Like the element immediately below it on the periodic table, when this element is surrounded by only hydrogen atoms, the resulting molecule acts as a high temperature superconducting solid at high pressures.
{silicon}