Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust. It was discovered in 1824 by Swedish chemist Jons Jacob Berzelius and gets its name from the Latin word for flint. At room temperature, silicon exists in both amorphous and crystalline forms, with the crystalline form having a metallic luster and grayish color. In addition to being a component of sand and quartz, silicon has many important uses including in soaps, adhesives, lubricants, polishing agents, electrical insulators, and medical implants.