Carbon and silicon are known to have similar lattice structures. However, the four bonding electrons of carbon are present in second orbit while those of silicon are present in its third orbit. How does this difference result in a difference in their electrical conductivities
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We know that in an atoms binding energy of electron is less in highter orbit and more in lower orbit. Therefore, the energy required to remove an electron from silicon atom is much smaller than that in case of carbon atom. That is why, the number of free electrons for conduction in silicon is quite significant but very small for carbon. As a result of it, the conductivity of silicon is much higher than that of carbon.
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