Dictionary of Chemistry [6th Ed.]

of allowed quantum states. Between
the bands are forbidden bands. The
outermost electrons of the atoms (i.e.
the ones responsible for chemical
bonding) form the valence band of
the solid. This is the band, of those
occupied, that has the highest en-
ergy.
The band structure of solids ac-
counts for their electrical properties.
In order to move through the solid,
the electrons have to change from
one quantum state to another. This
can only occur if there are empty
quantum states with the same en-
ergy. In general, if the valence band
is full, electrons cannot change to
new quantum states in the same
band. For conduction to occur, the
electrons have to be in an unÜlled
band – the conduction band. Metals
are good conductors either because
the valence band and the conduction
band are only half-Ülled or because
the conduction band overlaps with
the valence band; in either case va-
cant states are available. In insulators
the conduction band and valence
band are separated by a wide forbid-
den band and electrons do not have
enough energy to ‘jump’ from one to
the other. In intrinsic semiconduc-
tors the forbidden gap is narrow and,
at normal temperatures, electrons at

the top of the valence band can move

by thermal agitation into the conduc-

tion band (at absolute zero, a semi-

conductor would act as an insulator).

Doped semiconductors have extra

bands in the forbidden gap. See illus-

tration.

energy levelA deÜniteÜxed en-

ergy that a molecule, atom, electron,

or nucleus can have. In an atom, for

example, the atom has aÜxed energy

corresponding to the *orbitals in

which its electrons move around the

nucleus. The atom can accept a quan-

tum of energy to become an excited

atom (see excitation) if that extra en-

ergy will raise an electron to a per-

mitted orbital. Between the ground

state, which is the lowest possible

energy level for a particular system,

and theÜrst excited state there are

no permissible energy levels. Accord-

ing to the *quantum theory, only

certain energy levels are possible. An

atom passes from one energy level to

the next without passing through

fractions of that energy transition.

These levels are usually described by

the energies associated with the indi-

vidual electrons in the atoms, which

are always lower than an arbitrary

level for a free electron. The energy

levels of molecules also involve quan-

205 energy level

e

EEE

electron

distribution

forbidden band

conduction

band

valence

band

conduction

band

valence

band

valence band

conduction band

Insulator Conductor Semiconductor

Energy bands