Which one of the following is not a semiconductor?

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Silicon

Germanium

Quartz

Gallium arsenide

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Answer is Wrong!

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2017

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The correct answer is C) Quartz.

Semiconductors are materials with electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator. Silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge) are elemental semiconductors. Gallium arsenide (GaAs) is a compound semiconductor. Quartz is primarily silicon dioxide (SiO₂), which is an excellent electrical insulator.

Semiconductors have a band gap that is smaller than insulators but larger than conductors, allowing their conductivity to be significantly altered by temperature, doping, and other factors. Insulators like quartz have a large band gap, making it very difficult for electrons to move and conduct electricity.

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