Question

Which one of the following is not a semiconductor?

• A. Si
• B. Sb
• C. Ge
• D. CdS
• E. GaAs

Hint:

While some metalloids have semiconductive properties, not all metalloids (like Sb) are used as semiconductors in electronic devices.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Silicon (Si) and Germanium (Ge) are well-known semiconductors commonly used in electronics. 
Step 2: Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) and Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) are compound semiconductors used in various electronic and photonic devices. 
Step 3: Antimony (Sb), however, is a metalloid and is typically not classified as a semiconductor; it does not exhibit the semiconductive properties like variable conductivity or bandgap manipulation typical of semiconductor materials. 
Step 4: Therefore, Sb is not a semiconductor, correctly aligning with option (B).