The impurity atom that should be added to the germanium to make it an ...
An n-type conductor is formed by adding a pentavalent impurity to germanium.
Among the options, only Arsenic has +5 valency i.e., pentavalent.
Hence it must be added to germanium to make it an n-type semiconductor.
The impurity atom that should be added to the germanium to make it an ...
Adding Impurity Atom to Germanium for n-type Semiconductor:
To make germanium an n-type semiconductor, an impurity atom with five valence electrons should be added. This introduces extra electrons into the crystal lattice, leading to an excess of negative charge carriers (electrons).
Arsenic as the Impurity Atom:
- Arsenic (As) has five valence electrons, making it suitable for creating an n-type semiconductor.
- When arsenic atoms are added to the germanium crystal lattice, they replace some of the germanium atoms and introduce extra electrons.
- These extra electrons become the majority charge carriers in the crystal, resulting in an n-type semiconductor behavior.
Other Options:
- Iodine has seven valence electrons, making it unsuitable for creating an n-type semiconductor in germanium.
- Indium and aluminum have three valence electrons, which would not lead to the desired excess of negative charge carriers in the crystal.
Therefore, the impurity atom that should be added to germanium to make it an n-type semiconductor is arsenic. By understanding the properties of different impurity atoms and their impact on the crystal structure, it is possible to control the conductivity type of semiconductors for various electronic applications.