Electricity current......?

Question

How many volts of electricity is required to make a piece of silicon the size of a grain of rice explode? As in, the explosion strong enough to hurt the person holding it? (scratches, bruises[not likely], cuts, burns, whatever.......)
oh, and i'm not planning on a terrorist attack or anything, it's juz something i need for a nasty science report.

Answer 1

Power (watts) equals Volts X Amps.
Volts is the measure of electromotive force pushing the current.
Current can't flow without the force (volts) required to push it.
All conductors (except "Super Conductors" have some degree of resistance to that flow of current.
That resistance generates heat.
Your silicon chip, being a semi-conductor, will have resistance, so it will generate heat when a current is driven through it.
I'm sure it can explode if high enough current is forced through it.
A copper wire will explode if a large enough burst of energy (measured in watts) is forced through it.
The answer will depend on the size (mass) and dimensions (length and cross-section) of the silicon chip. A small cross-section will increase resistance generating heat. Mass will help discipate heat.
Yes, it is possible, but I don't have enough data to answer your question with any accuracy.

Answer 2

Homeland Security will not be amused by you.

I wasn't aware silicon was explosive. Mind you, it is in the same part of the periodic table as carbon - and with high current, carbon lights with a blinding white intense light. Think of carbon arcs.

Carbon, sheathed in copper makes a plasma cutter which will cut through steel plate. So, perhaps silicon might be reactive in some way.

I wouldn't get caught trying if I were you. A lot of people are quite intolerant of explosions of any type, these days.

Answer 3

It not the voltage that makes it explode its the power applied to it.