Question

The packing factor for diamond cubic silicon is

• A. 0.24
• B. 0.34
• C. 0.44
• D. 0.54

Hint:

Diamond cubic structures, such as silicon and carbon in diamond form, have a packing efficiency of only 34%. This low packing factor is because the atoms are arranged to maximize covalent bonding angles, which provides high rigidity but low density, ideal for semiconductors.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

The packing factor is the fraction of volume occupied by atoms in the unit cell:
\[\text{Packing Factor} = \frac{\text{Volume of atoms}}{\text{Volume of the unit cell}}\]
For diamond cubic, this value is approximately \(0.34\), indicating \(34\%\) of the volume is occupied by silicon atoms.