Electric conduction in a semiconductor takes place due to

Options

A. electrons only
B. holes only
C. both electrons and holes
D. neither electrons nor holes

Answer

To solve the question "Electric conduction in a semiconductor takes place due to," we will analyze the options provided and understand the role of electrons and holes in semiconductor conduction.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Semiconductors**:
- Semiconductors are materials that have electrical conductivity between that of conductors and insulators. They can conduct electricity under certain conditions, such as temperature increase or doping with impurities.

2. **Charge Carriers in Semiconductors**:
- In semiconductors, there are two types of charge carriers: electrons and holes.
- **Electrons** are negatively charged particles that can move freely through the semiconductor material.
- **Holes** are the absence of electrons in the valence band and can be thought of as positively charged carriers.

3. **Behavior at Room Temperature**:
- At room temperature (approximately 300 Kelvin), semiconductors have a significant number of free electrons and holes due to thermal excitation.
- The number of free electrons is equal to the number of holes in intrinsic semiconductors. This means that both types of charge carriers are present and available for conduction.

4. **Conduction Mechanism**:
- When an electric field is applied, electrons move towards the positive terminal, while holes move towards the negative terminal.
- The movement of electrons contributes to the current in one direction, while the movement of holes contributes to the current in the opposite direction.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Since both electrons and holes participate in the conduction process, the correct answer to the question is that electric conduction in a semiconductor takes place due to **both electrons and holes**.

### Final Answer:
The correct option is **both electrons and holes**.