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Scoundrel 10 months ago
Something doesn't have to be a crystal to form crystaline structures. Silicone is also a rock, but all our technology depends on the fact that it likes to form crystals. Make a big and uniform silicone crystal and you can start etching chip designs onto it.

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"silicon" is different from silicone. silica is a major component of many "rocks" all "rocks" are crystals
Scoundrel's avatar
Scoundrel 10 months ago
Ah, thanks. Silicon is an element. Silicone is a polymer. (Containing silicon.) But you are wrong about all rocks being crystals. In popular nomenclature, crystals tend to be sparkly, transparent, and geometric. Rocks don't match very well. Just like how in popular nomenclature, tomatos and bananas aren't fruits.