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  4. Band theory predicts that magnesium is an insulator. However, in practice it acts as a conductor due to

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Q. Band theory predicts that magnesium is an insulator. However, in practice it acts as a conductor due to

NTA AbhyasNTA Abhyas 2020The Solid State

Solution:

The electronic configuration of Mg is

$1s^{2},2s^{2},2p^{6},3s^{2},3p^{0}$

In it 3s - orbital is completely filed and 3p-orbital is empty. There is very small energy difference between 3s and 3p - orbitals. Thus, they overlap and make the Mg a conductor.

Solution

Band model of Mg