Question

Indium antimonide (InSb) has a band gap of only 0.17 eV, while GaAs has aband gap of 1.424 eV. Explain how the difference between these band gaps fitswith the "fundamental" explanation of hard and soft acids and bases and the trends in the periodic table.

Answer 1

The electrical conductivity of an intrinsic semiconductor (neat) depends largely on the gap width. Carriers are only useful to conduct electrons have sufficient thermal energy to jump the band gap, which is defined as the energy difference between the conduction band and the valence band.

in the case of the acids, acid strength is related to the ionization of acid in water. Some of the acids can ionize 100% in water solutions, we call them "strong acid". Conversely, some of the acid can not ionize as strong acids. We call acids partially ionized solutions "weak acid".

acid solutions allow conduct electrical current. Electrical current is directly proportional to the concentration of ions in solution. Therefore, we can say that the solutions of strong acids conduct electricity better than the solutions of weak acids electricity.

X is any element;

If the electronegativity of X increases strength of acids produced by the X and H also increases.

If the bond energy between increases in X and H, then the acid strength decreases.

In the periodic table, from top to bottom, in the same group, the force increases HX. In the periodic table, from left to right increases strength HX

Bases that completely ionize in solution are called "strong bases". Bases which is partially ionized in solution are called "weak base".

Aqueous solutions of bases also conduct electricity and is directly proportional to the concentration of ions in solution. Therefore, solutions of strong bases conduct electricity better than the solutions of weak bases electricity.

In the periodic table, from top to bottom in the base metal strength increases compounds groups. In the periodic table from left to right, the core strength of the compounds decreases.