Final answer:
The statement is false; vacuum tubes do not contain silicon, and they are vacuum-sealed to prevent metal oxidation and allow electron flow.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that vacuum tubes contain a vacuum so that the silicon contained inside the tube will not oxidize is false. Vacuum tubes do not contain silicon; rather, they have metal components inside a glass tube. The purpose of the vacuum inside these tubes is to prevent the metal from oxidizing and to allow the free movement of electrons within the tube, free from interference by gas molecules. The absence of air or other gases ensures that the metal parts can function properly to control electron flow in applications like amplifiers and radios before transistors and integrated circuits became dominant.