• threeonefour@piefed.ca
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    3 days ago

    Achtually! Silicon is the 14th element on the periodic table. Sand is (mostly) Silicon Dioxide, SiO2.

        • lauha@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          Yes, I had to check before making the comment because I had a hunch it would be close.

          • zergtoshi@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            I wasn’t sure that silicon still has only 1 neutron per proton, so I had to check as well.
            Looking again at the periodic table it seems like some elements before and after silicon already have an extra neutron per proton (even the majority of lithium has an extra neutron!) - gotta keep the nucleus together, right?

      • threeonefour@piefed.ca
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        3 days ago

        Kinda like how plants grow structurally by using the carbon from the CO2 they absorb. Imagine gaining mass by breathing.

      • frongt@lemmy.zip
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        3 days ago

        No. Atoms of different elements have significantly varying masses. H2O, for example, is two hydrogens for an atomic weight of about 2, and one oxygen with a weight of about 16.

        • lauha@lemmy.world
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          2 days ago

          You are wrong. Atomic weight of silicon is 28 and oxygen is 16. Two oxygens weight 32 which is greater than 28.

          Sand is mostly oxygen.