Question

Why is silicon a semiconductor?

Answer 1

Semiconductor:

1. A semiconductor is a material that has electrical resistance more than conductors and less than insulators so that it can conduct current not as fast as conductors but does not restrict the flow of current as insulators.
2. So it kind of “semi” conducts the current.

Why silicon is a semiconductor:

1. Silicon crystal lattice has a diamond structure that repeats patterns in $8$ atoms. Each silicon atom is combined with $4$ of its neighboring atoms by $4$ bonds. This makes it stable.
2. Silicon is a common element and also stable in nature. Therefore, it is used in semiconductors.
3. Electricity does not conduct in this pure monocrystalline silicon, when silicon is doped with impurities it becomes conductive.
4. But silicon does not have conductivity comparable to conductors, it is very less but much more than that of insulators which is why it is called a semiconductor.

Thus, silicon is a semiconductor.