Question

The compound gallium phosphide (Ga P) is a compound semiconductor having mixed ionic and covalent bonding. The electronegativities for Ga and P are 1.6 and 2.1 respectively. Calculate the fraction of the bonding that is ionic.

Answer 1

Answer: The fraction of the bonding that is ionic is 0.08875.

Step-by-step explanation:

Percentage ionic character is calculated using the formula:

% ionic character =
`[16* \Delta E_N + 3.5* (\Delta E_N)^2]`

Where,
`\Delta E_N` = electronegativity difference

Given : The electronegativities for Ga and P are 1.6 and 2.1 respectively.

Thus
`\Delta E_N` = electronegativity of phosphorous - electronegativity of galium = 2.1 -1.6 = 0.5

Therefore,

%ionic character =
`[16* 0.5 + 3.5* (0.5)^2]=8.875`

Fraction of ionic bond =
`(8.875)/(100)= 0.08875`

The fraction of the bonding that is ionic is 0.08875.