What is the basis for thinking that silicon based life forms might exist on other planets?

Question

What is it about silicon?

Answer 1

The basis for thinking that silicon based life forms might exist on other planets is that it tends to react somewhat like carbon. Since life on earth is carbon based and silicon reacts somewhat like carbon some scientist believe that there could be silicon based life forms.

Answer 2

Carbon and Silicon are in the same column on the periodic table. This means that they have the same number of electrons in their outer shell, which also gives them many similar properties. In this case, silicon can bond in a way similar to carbon.

Also, the two most abundant elements in our crust are Oxygen and Silicon. So if the materials are there, and they might work in similar ways to life here, it isn't a huge leap to see how that might be the case on an alien world.

Answer 3

Biology involves the organization of complex systems. Atoms such as carbon can form long filaments which can give a molecule a very complex structure. Very complex molecular structures allow for the formation of very complex systems capable of responding to stimuli. Silicon is like carbon in that it can form the same sorts of filamentous bonds. I’m no chemist, but the down side of silicon based life is that (I think) silicon has weaker bond strength than carbon. Thus, silicon might be able to form some of the same kinds of molecular bonds as carbon, but they are more unstable and less likely to occur.

On the other hand, some planets might have environments (probably toxic to us) that favor such reactions to occur.

Answer 4

it has the same bonding scheme and abilities as carbon. anything in that column of the periodic table would act like carbon