On the Potential of Silicon as a Building Block for Life

Title	On the Potential of Silicon as a Building Block for Life
Authors	Janusz Jurand Petkowski, William Bains, Sara Seager
Magazine	Life
Date	06/10/2020
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3390/life10060084
Introduction	For over a century, organosilicon chemistry has been explored, yet the feasibility of silicon-based life has not been thoroughly reviewed. This study evaluates silicon's potential for life, comparing its chemical diversity and reactivity with carbon. Our analysis spans different planetary solvents such as water, cryosolvents, and sulphuric acid. In water-rich environments, silicon's chemistry is limited due to silica formation, allowing it to be only a specialised heteroatom. Cryosolvents offer low solubility for organosilicons, while sulphuric acid supports diverse organosilicon chemistry. Ultimately, silicon-based life is implausible, but silicon can contribute uniquely to biochemistry under specific conditions.
Quote	Janusz Jurand Petkowski, William Bains and Sara Seager. On the Potential of Silicon as a Building Block for Life. Life (Basel). 2020. Vol. 10(6). DOI: 10.3390/life10060084
Element	Silicon (Si) , Carbon (C) , Nitrogen (N) , Sulfur (S)
Materials	Chemical Compounds , Silicides
Industry	Chemical & Pharmacy , Research & Laboratory , Space