Two solids are shown below. One is a semiconductor...

Question

Two solids are shown below. One is a semiconductor and one is an insulator.Which one is which? Explain your reasoning.

Jules Bruno · Accepted Answer

Semiconductors are materials that can conduct electricity but not as well as metals. Semiconductors form an energy gap between the filled and empty states, much like the energy gap between bonding and antibonding orbitals. Occupied bonding molecular orbitals → valence bandUnoccupied antibonding molecular orbitals → conduction bandThese two bands are separated by the energy band gap Eg. [readmore]As the particle size gets smaller for a semiconductor, the band gap gets larger. As the crystals are made smaller, the material gradually changes color until it becomes white. The color appears white because the band gap becomes so large that only high-energy ultraviolet light can excite electrons from valence band into the conduction band.The top pile in the image has a wider diameter and nearly white. It has a large particle size but already have a large band gap since its color is nearly white. Therefore, it is not a semiconductor.On the other hand, the bottom pile is powdered and is rust colored. It has a smaller size but it has also a smaller band gap. Electrons can be excited from the valence band to the conduction band by visible light because color can be seen by the naked eye. Therefore, it can function as a semiconductor.

Problem: Two solids are shown below. One is a semiconductor and one is an insulator.Which one is which? Explain your reasoning.

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Problem Details

Problem: Two solids are shown below. One is a semiconductor and one is an insulator.Which one is which? Explain your reasoning.

FREE Expert Solution

Problem Details

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