"DoN. Nichols" wrote:

"Silicon" is an element, and is rather hard and brittle. It is
used (in precisely impure form) to make transistors and integrated
circuits, and is sometimes used for making lenses for infrared imagers.
(It is opaque to visible light.) The oxide of it is plain old sand.
And if silicon were used in breast implants, they would be *very* stiff.


And make for some VERY abrasive women. ;-)