Final answer:
Impurities in a solid can significantly alter its structure and properties, especially in materials for technology such as semiconductors in the electronics industry. Deliberate doping is conducted with precision to control electrical properties, whereas unintended impurities can negatively affect efficiency and yields.
Step-by-step explanation:
Impurities in Solid Materials
Impurities can have a significant impact on the structure and properties of solids, especially in materials used for technological applications. In the context of the question, achieving a 90% purity in a technological process after elution indicates that the remaining 10% consists of impurities. These impurities could be other elements, molecules, or compounds that are incorporated into the crystal lattice of the materials, altering their properties. For example, in the electronics industry, the purity of silicon crystals is critical. Even a slight amount of impurities can have marked effects on the electrical properties of semiconductors. The doping of silicon with specific elements like phosphorus (P) or arsenic (As) to form n-type semiconductors, or boron (B) and aluminum (Al) to form p-type semiconductors, is carried out with deliberate precision. Any unexpected impurities could detrimentally affect the efficiency and function of integrated circuits (ICs).
Moreover, impurities can lead to an incorrect calculation of yields in chemical reactions. If a product contains impurities, a percent yield greater than 100% might be erroneously reported due to the extra mass from these impurities. Therefore, chemists strive to purify reaction products to obtain accurate yields and high-purity substances, even though completely pure materials are quite rare and often expensive to produce.