Question

What is the name of $SiC$?

• A. Silicon carbon
• B. Quartz
• C. Carborundum
• D. Silicon carboxylate

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

Carborundum

Silicon carbide $\left(SiC\right)$, also known as carborundum, is a compound of silicon and carbon with chemical formula $SiC$. It occurs in nature as the extremely rare mineral moissanite. Silicon carbide powder has been mass-produced since 1893 for use as an abrasive. Grains of silicon carbide can be bonded together by sintering to form very hard ceramics that are widely used in applications requiring high endurance, such as car brakes, car clutches and ceramic plates in bulletproof vests. Electronic applications of silicon carbide such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and detectors in early radios were first demonstrated around 1907.