Arrange the following in the increasing order of their energy gap between their conduction and valence bands:
(A) Si
(B) C (diamond)
(C) Ge
(D) Sn
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → (D), (C), (A), (B)
Energy gap increases as we move from materials with metallic character to insulators:
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(D) Sn → very small/zero band gap (behaves like a metal)
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(C) Ge → small band gap (~0.7 eV)
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(A) Si → moderate band gap (~1.1 eV)
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(B) C (diamond) → very large band gap (~5.5 eV, insulator)
Therefore, increasing order: Sn < Ge < Si < Diamond (C)
(D) Sn < (C) Ge < (A) Si < (B) C