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.

Explanation:

Percentage ionic character is calculated using the formula:

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

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  = $[16\times 0.5 + 3.5\times (0.5)^2]=8.875$

Fraction of ionic bond =$\frac{8.875}{100}= 0.08875$

The fraction of the bonding that is ionic is 0.08875.