Silicon

Silicon is the worlds second most abundant element, although it is usually found in combination with something else. It is also extremely conductive, and is used extensively in computing and hardware. Although it is a naturally occurring element, it is extremely rare to find it in crystallised form, as it so readily bonds with oxygen, forming Silica (SiO2 - you'll probably know as Quartz!). In order to get pure Silicon, it is extracted from Silica during an oxygen removal process and we are left with almost pure Silicon.