What type of semiconductor is produced when pure silicon is doped with trace amounts of phosphorus?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: A. n-type semiconductor
- Step 1: Silicon is a group 14 element with 4 valence electrons.
- Step 2: Phosphorus is a pentavalent group 15 element with 5 valence electrons.
- Step 3: When phosphorus substitutes for silicon in the crystal lattice, the fifth electron becomes a free conduction carrier, creating an n-type (negative carrier) semiconductor.
Answer
n-type semiconductor.
Why not the others: 'p-type semiconductor' is produced by doping with trivalent elements like boron or gallium; 'Intrinsic semiconductor' is pure undoped semiconductor; 'Superconductor' exhibits zero electrical resistance at low temperatures.
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