Like all elements, silicon has a melting point and a boiling point which are affected by the same essential factors. However, silicon does have several special properties. Silicon is the most abundant electropositive element in the periodic table. This makes it an excellent semiconductor. It is used in glass, cement and many electronics which require semiconductors to function. Silicon is a mostly inert element, and it does not have a tendency to concentrate in a particular organ in the human body.
Temperature affects the melting point of Silicon the most. Silicon is a solid at room temperature (20 degrees Celsius). The melting point of Silicon is 1,470 degrees Celsius. The melting point of silicon is not a temperature commonly reached on the surface of the Earth without artificial heating of the element. Heat is a relative measure of the energy present in a substance, so raising the temperature of silicon is the primary factor which affects the melting point.
If there are other elements or subjects in the silicon, it lowers the melting point. Introducing foreign elements disrupts the ordering of the particles in the substances. Solids are highly ordered, which is why foreign substances lower the melting point. Typically, silicon is found in the natural environment mixed with other elements from when the Earth was much hotter. If it is melted again, more impurities may be added to it further affecting the melting point later.
Pressure is the third and final factor which significantly affects melting points. It actually affects the melting point the least, as it is hardest to change. More energy is added into a system by pressure because it represents the amount of force being introduced into the system at a given time. Pressure can actually raise temperature, so when heating silicon under pressure it would require less external heat or energy to cause it to melt.