<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000945436</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WFR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001339198</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOHN BRADLEY D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 8</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST PETERS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>63376</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President &amp; Gen. Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.88</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>200000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option to purchase 200,000 shares of common stock was awarded on September 18, 2005 under the MEMC Electronic Materials
2001 Equity Incentive Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. The options are exercisable at an exercise price of
$19.88 per share. 100,000 options become exercisable in 25% increments on September 18, 2006, September 18, 2007, September
18, 2008 and September 18, 2009, respectively. The remaining 100,000 options become exercisable on September 18, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Bradley D. Kohn</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
