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Four reasons. First, it is a LOT cheaper and easier to get silicon. Germanium is a trace element in rocks. You need to mine and process lots of rock to get any germanium. Silicon is also known as sand--very easy to find.
Second, germanium is heat sensitive. It's harder to solder a germanium device in than a silicon one because the heat can mess up the germanium. Germanium devices pretty much have to be soldered in by hand because you have to heat sink them, whereas silicon devices can be soldered in a soldering machine.
Third, germanium's hazardous and silicon is generally not. People eat off glass plates, which are made from silicon. They do NOT eat from germanium plates, if they could even afford them.
And fourth, germanium has a variable voltage drop--the higher the voltage, the greater the drop. If you pump 5000 volts into a silicon diode, you're going to get 4999.3v out the other side.
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Why you prefer silicon atom as comp conductor atom?
the silicon is the insulator
Why you prefer silicon atom as compared to germanium atom?
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Why is it important to remove silicon dioxide as slag?
Most people prefer their steel not to have glass in it.
Why you prefer silicon over conductor?
We use chips of silicon in computers and mobile phones and many other devices because we can control the conductivity of silicon. We cannot control the conductivity of metal conductors -- they are always highly conductive. The really magical thing about silicon is that it can be doped such that a few regions (the "transistor channels") can be actively switched from conductive to insulating, millions of times per second. I wouldn't say I prefer one over the other, though -- all those devices invariably *also* have many metal conductors.
Is the 2N5777 photo diode an APD or a pin diode?
The 2N5777 is a Darlington silicon NPN photo detector, or, if you prefer a photoDarlington. A link is provided to a bit of data on this device.
What is the scientific name of SiBr2?
Silicon hexabromide
What are the elements found in sand?
Silicon and oxygen, in this form. SiO2 Silicon dioxide.
Is silicon similar to a non-metal?
no it is not a nonmetal. Silicon is a metalloid
What is the most familiar semiconductor?
silicon and germanium
How do you get condensation out of the headlights on a 99 sable?
There are a lot of ways you can get this done, but I prefer this: Take the headlight assembly out and dry with air dryer, then re-seal headlight with clear silicon, problem solved.
What makes up silicon?
silicon is an element and is only composed of silicon
What is the plural of a silicon die?
Silicon dice is the plural of silicon die
