Semiconductors behave like insulators at _______

Options

A. `0^(@)C`
B. 0 K
C. 273 K
D. None of the above

Explanation

To solve the question "Semiconductors behave like insulators at _______", we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Properties of Semiconductors and Insulators**:
- Semiconductors have a band gap that is smaller than that of insulators. This means that at room temperature, semiconductors can conduct electricity, but insulators cannot.

2. **Effect of Temperature on Conductivity**:
- At higher temperatures, semiconductors can conduct electricity due to the thermal energy available to excite electrons across the band gap.
- As the temperature decreases, the thermal energy available to the electrons also decreases.

3. **Behavior at Absolute Zero**:
- At absolute zero (0 Kelvin), the thermal energy is minimal. Electrons in the semiconductor do not have enough energy to move from the valence band to the conduction band.
- As a result, the number of free charge carriers (electrons) in the semiconductor decreases significantly.

4. **Conclusion**:
- When the temperature reaches 0 Kelvin, the semiconductor behaves like an insulator because there are no free charge carriers available to conduct electricity.

5. **Final Answer**:
- Therefore, semiconductors behave like insulators at **0 Kelvin** (or -273 degrees Celsius).