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8.1 What makes silicon different from a metal in terms of conducting electricity? Name ONE difference - NSC Technical Sciences - Question 8 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 8
8.1 What makes silicon different from a metal in terms of conducting electricity? Name ONE difference. Refer to the electron arrangement. 8.2 Name and define the pr... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:8.1 What makes silicon different from a metal in terms of conducting electricity? Name ONE difference - NSC Technical Sciences - Question 8 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
What makes silicon different from a metal in terms of conducting electricity? Name ONE difference. Refer to the electron arrangement.
Answer
Silicon differs from metals in that the outer electrons (valence electrons) in silicon are involved in forming strong covalent bonds, whereas metals possess free (or conduction) electrons that can move freely to conduct electricity.
Step 2
Name and define the process through which silicon could become a better conductor of electricity.
Answer
The process is known as doping. Doping involves adding impurities to intrinsic semiconductors to enhance their conductivity. By introducing certain materials, the electron structure is altered, allowing silicon to conduct electricity more effectively.
Step 3