Biological Role Silicon is essential to plant and animal life. It is non-toxic but some silicates, such as asbestos, are carcinogenic. Some workers such as miners and stonecutters who are exposed to siliceous dust often develop a serious lung disease called silicosis. General Information Silicon is relatively inert. It is attacked by halogens and dilute alkali, but is not attacked by acids except hydrofluoric.
Silicones are important products of silicon, prepared by hydrolysing a silicon organic chloride.
Hydrolysis and condensation of substituted chlorosilanes can be used to produce a great number of polymers known as silicones, ranging from liquids to hard, glasslike solids with many useful properties.