THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN CONDUCTOR, SEMICONDUCTOR AND INSULATOR i) CONDUCTOR

- No forbidden band or energy gap and the valence and conduction bands overlap. - It takes a small amount of energy to move electrons into the conduction band.

- Example silver General Properties Name Element category Group Atomic weight Electron per shell Silver, Ag, 47 Transition metal 11, 5, d 107.8682 2, 8, 18, 18

Physical properties Phase Density Melting point Boiling point Solid 10.49 gcm3 961.78 C 2162 C

ii) INSULATOR
- Have very wide energy gap. - It takes a greater amount of energy required to move the electron from the valence band to the conduction band.

- Example quartz General properties Category Chemical formula Strunz classification Dana classification Crystal symmetry Unit cell Silicate mineral Silica (silicon dioxide, SiO2) 04.DA.05 75.01.03.01 Trigonal HM Symbol 32 a = 4.9133

iii) SEMICONDUCTOR

- Has a smaller forbidden band and requires less energy to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band.

- Example germanium General properties Name Element category Group Atomic weight Electron per shell Germanium, Ge, 32 Metalloid 14, 4, p 72.63 2, 8, 18

Physical properties Phase Density Boiling point Melting point Solid 5.323 gcm3 2833 C 938.25 C