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Grade 12Physical Chemistry

Althouugh Si is insulator then how does it behave as semiconductor upto heating

Profile image of karan
8 Years agoGrade 12
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1 Answer

Profile image of Arun
8 Years ago

On heating, the electrons gain energy and hence the bonds break and the number of free electrons increases. Thus, increasing the conductivity. This formula supports the answer,

σ = ne2/(mτ)

where, 
σ = conductivity
n = number density of free electrons
e = charge in electron
m = mass of electron

τ (tau) = relaxation time