Consider the following statements about p-type silicon made by doping…

The correct answer is Option (3) → (B), (C) and (D) only

A trivalent atom has one valence electron less than a silicon atom. It bonds with three neighbours, and the bond with the fourth neighbour is left with a vacancy, called a hole.

(A) Each acceptor atom forms covalent bonds with all four neighbouring Si atoms. — False. With only three valence electrons, the acceptor completes bonds with three Si neighbours. It has no electron to offer to the fourth one.

(B) The acceptor atom can be treated as a fixed core of one negative charge. — True. An electron from a neighbouring bond fills the vacancy. The acceptor atom then carries one extra negative charge and stays fixed in the lattice.

(C) One acceptor atom gives one hole. — True. Each acceptor atom leaves one vacancy in a bond, so it adds one hole.

(D) The crystal as a whole remains electrically neutral. — True. The total charge of the extra holes is equal and opposite to the charge of the ionised acceptor cores.

NCERT (2026-27):
p-type semiconductor – “… The dopant has one valence electron less than Si or Ge and, therefore, this atom can form covalent bonds with neighbouring three Si atoms but does not have any electron to offer to the fourth Si atom. …”

p-type semiconductor – “… Therefore, the dopant atom of p-type material can be treated as core of one negative charge along with its associated hole …”

p-type semiconductor – “… It is obvious that one acceptor atom gives one hole. …”

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.”