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Elements have two bands.
One is Valence band and other is Conduction band.
Valence band contains electrons whereas the conduction band is empty.
The energy gap between them is called the forbidden gap.
In case of metals, this gap is very small or the bands overlap.
Therefore, the electrons are able to jump from the valence band to the conduction band and hence metal are able to conduct electricity and they are generally conductors.
In case of Non-Metals, the energy gap is very large and hence hence electrons are not able to move from valence band to conduction band.
Hence they are insulators.
But in case of elements like Silicon, Germanium this gap is between Metals and Non-Metals, hence few electrons are able to move from valence band to conduction band. Therefore they have some conductivity but it is low and hence they are called semiconductors.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Silicon is a semiconductor because it has four valence electrons in its outer shell, allowing it to easily form a crystalline structure. This structure enables silicon to conduct electricity better than an insulator but not as well as a conductor, making it suitable for use in electronic devices. Additionally, doping with other elements can further enhance its conductivity.
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Is silicon nonconductor?
Silicon is a semiconductor, not a nonconductor. It lies in between conductors and nonconductors in terms of electrical conductivity. It is widely used in technology for its semiconductor properties.
What is silicon conductivity?
Silicon is a semiconductor material that has moderate conductivity. Its conductivity can be increased by adding specific impurities through a process called doping. This makes silicon a key material for building electronic devices such as transistors and integrated circuits.
What is silicon an alkali metal alkaline-earth metal transition metal or a semiconductor?
Silicon is a semiconductor. It is widely used in electronic devices due to its semiconducting properties, which allow it to be either a conductor or an insulator depending on the conditions. Silicon is not classified as an alkali metal, alkaline-earth metal, or transition metal.
What is silicon disulfide?
Silicon disulfide is a chemical compound composed of silicon and sulfur. It is a grey solid that is insoluble in water. Silicon disulfide is used in lubricants and as a semiconductor material.
Why silicon is preferred over carbon in fabrication of semiconductor?
Silicon is preferred over carbon for semiconductor fabrication because it is abundant, easily obtained in high purity, and has well-established processing techniques. Silicon also has a higher mobility for charge carriers, making it more efficient for electronic applications compared to carbon. Additionally, silicon dioxide forms a stable insulating layer with silicon, enabling the creation of reliable semiconductor devices.
What is the most familiar semiconductor?
silicon and germanium
Is silicon a conducter?
Silicon is a semiconductor
Is silicon a semiconductor?
Yes,silicon and germanium are semiconductors.
Is pure silicon an insulator?
Pure silicon is a semiconductor.
Is silicon semiconductor?
Yes
What semiconductor material is used to make transistors?
* silicon * germanium * gallium arsenide * etc.
What semiconductor is used in calculators?
Silicon based semiconductors are the most commonly used semiconductor material in calculators. Silicon semiconductors are also extensively used in computers.
What semiconductor is used in computers?
Silicon.
How is n-type and p-type formed?
When in intrinsic semiconductor (pure silicon) addition of small amount of impurity of group V elements (arsenic, antimony, phosphorous) makes N-type semiconductor. V group elements provides one extra electron to silicon atom. so this makes negative charge and majority of electrons. so its called N-type.. And in P-type when in pure silicon addition of small amount of impurity of group III elements (boron, aluminum) makes the P-type. by adding IIIrd group elements they they accepts the electrons from the silicon atom since its trivalent elements so there will be vacancy of 1 electron in silicon lattice resulting the formation of "hole". This makes semiconductor positive charged semiconductor called P-type.
Give a example of a semiconductor?
Silicon Germanium
What is the chemical bonding in silicon semiconductor?
covalent
What is an example of a semiconductor in periodic table?
Silicon?
