Question

What is the difference b/w ordinary diode zener diode?

Answer 1

The level of doping is the main difference between a normal and a zener diode.When you dope a semiconductor with trivalent or pentavalent element a diode is formed.Now when we increase the doping level the depletion region formed at the junction becomes very thin and so does the resistance offered by the junction.Due to this, when in reverse bias configuration, for a small change in current in zener diode the voltage drop doesn't change much but had it been an ordinary diode it would have been damaged