Different between conductor and insulator and …

CHARACTERISTICS CONDUCTOR SEMI-CONDUCTOR INSULATOR Conductivity High Moderate Low Resistivity Low Moderate Very High Forbidden gap No forbidden gap Small forbidden gap Large forbidden gap Temperature coefficient Positive Negative Negative Conduction Large number of electrons for conduction Very small number of electrons for conduction Moderate number of electrons for conduction Conductivity value Very high 10-7mho/m Between those of conductors and insulators i.e. 10-7mho/m to 10-13mho/m Negligible like 10-13mho/m Resistivity value Negligible; less than 10-5 Ω-m Between those of conductors and insulators i.e. 10-5 Ω-m to 105 Ω-m Very high; more than 105 Ω-m Current flow Due to free electrons Due to holes and free electrons Due to negligible free electrons Number of current carriers at normal temperature Very high Low Negligible Band overlap Both conduction and valence bands are overlapped. Both bands are separated by an energy gap of 1.1eV Both bands are separated by an energy gap of 6eV to 10eV 0 Kelvin Behavior Acts like a superconductor Acts like an insulator Acts like an insulator Formation Formed by mettalic bonding Formed by covalent bonding Formed by ionic bonding Valence Electrons One valence electron in outermost shell Four valence electron in outermost shell Eight valence electron in outermost shell Examples Copper, mercury, aluminum, silver Germanium, Silicon Wood, Rubber, Mica, Paper

According to their conductive property. Conductor conduct electricity, insulator do not conduct electricity while semiconductor have the intermediate property of conductor and insulator.