If phosphorous has five electrons in its outermost shell, meaning it needs only three more to fill the shell, how can it form FOUR valence bonds when used as a dopant in a silicon crystal? This is one ...

The distribution of outermost shell electrons, known as valence electrons, of organic molecules was observed for the first time. As the interactions between atoms are governed by the valence electrons ...

The vast majority of today’s integrated circuits uses silicon as the primary substrate. As I said in my recent “How Semiconductors Work” column: “As silicon is the main constituent of sand and one of ...

Mark Blaskovich receives funding from the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Wellcome Trust. He is a member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute and the ...