Problem 65 - Chemistry The Central Science

Question

For each of the following pairs of semiconductors, which one will have the larger band gap: (a) CdS or CdTe, (b) GaN or InP, (c) GaAs or InAs?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

The semiconductors with the larger band gap for each pair are: (a) CdS with a band gap of \(2.42 eV\), (b) GaN with a band gap of \(3.4 eV\), and (c) GaAs with a band gap of \(1.43 eV\).

Step 1: Find the band gap values for the given semiconductors

To compare the band gaps of the given semiconductors, we can refer to literature values or a reliable source. Here are the band gap values for the semiconductors given: - CdS: \(2.42 eV\) - CdTe: \(1.5 eV\) - GaN: \(3.4 eV\) - InP: \(1.35 eV\) - GaAs: \(1.43 eV\) - InAs: \(0.36 eV\) Now that we have the band gap values of each semiconductor, we can move on to the next step.

Step 2: Compare the band gap values of each pair to determine which semiconductor has the larger band gap

To find out which semiconductor has the larger band gap in each pair, we can simply compare their respective band gap values. Let's compare the values for each pair: (a) CdS or CdTe: - CdS: \(2.42 eV\) - CdTe: \(1.5 eV\) Since \(2.42 eV > 1.5 eV\), CdS has the larger band gap. (b) GaN or InP: - GaN: \(3.4 eV\) - InP: \(1.35 eV\) Since \(3.4 eV > 1.35 eV\), GaN has the larger band gap. (c) GaAs or InAs: - GaAs: \(1.43 eV\) - InAs: \(0.36 eV\) Since \(1.43 eV > 0.36 eV\), GaAs has the larger band gap. Therefore, the semiconductors with the larger band gap for each pair are: (a) CdS, (b) GaN, and (c) GaAs.