Given below are two statements:
Statement I: In p-type silicon, the conduction electrons come only from intrinsic generation.
Statement II: p-type silicon carries a net positive charge because it has more holes than electrons.
In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect
Statement I In p-type silicon, the conduction electrons come only from intrinsic generation. — True. A trivalent dopant adds holes but gives no electrons. So the only source of conduction electrons is the breaking of Si–Si bonds.
Statement II p-type silicon carries a net positive charge because it has more holes than electrons. — False. Each extra hole goes with one fixed acceptor core of negative charge. The two charges balance, so the crystal stays electrically neutral.
NCERT (2026-27):
p-type semiconductor – “… These holes are in addition to the intrinsically generated holes while the source of conduction electrons is only intrinsic generation. …”
p-type semiconductor – “Note that the crystal maintains an overall charge neutrality as the charge of additional charge carriers is just equal and opposite to that of the ionised cores in the lattice.”