What are the two main types of semiconductors?

The two main types of semiconductors are N-type and P-type. N-type semiconductors are created by doping a pure semiconductor material (like silicon) with an element that has extra electrons, typically from group V of the periodic table, such as phosphorus. This addition of extra electrons increases the number of charge carriers, thus enhancing the material's electrical conductivity.

On the other hand, P-type semiconductors are formed by doping the pure semiconductor with an element that has fewer electrons, usually from group III, like boron. This creates "holes" or vacancies where an electron is missing, which can accept an electron, effectively behaving as positive charge carriers.

The combination of N-type and P-type materials is fundamental in creating p-n junctions, which are crucial for diodes, transistors, and various electronic devices. This formation underpins much of modern electronics, including integrated circuits and solar cells.

The other options, such as active and passive, conductive and resistive, or intrinsic and extrinsic, refer to different concepts in electronics and materials science. For instance, active and passive relate to components based on their functionality (active components can control electrical signals, while passive ones cannot), while intrinsic and extrinsic refer more to the purity of