Introduction
Clear shell around the LED
Legs of the entire component
Main Chemicals, Compounds, Components
LED Semiconductor
How? The LED is composed of a semiconductive wafer that is made in a large oven. Silicon is placed in the oven and metal impurities are stirred in so that there is a path for electrons to flow.These wafers are cut down into extremely small wafers that then have metal contacts connected to them. This is how the electricity is able to flow. Gold is then used to connect the two contacts that have the electricity supplied to them.
What? An LED
When? It was first discovered in 1907 but the ones used today were developed in 2006, but they are always changing
Why? LEDs have many great uses like the lights in a car or the pixels in a TV. It was created for portable light
Where? They are developed at many places by companies like Nichia and Samsung LED.
Liquid Plastic Mold
How? Plastic pellets are placed in a hopper. The plastic then falls into a heating chamber. When ready they are ready a screw the melted plastic into a mold of the desired shape and they are cooled.
What? The plastic mold that the LED is encased in. Plastic can be made from the elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, and sulfur.
When? The well known plastic of today was created in 1907 by Leo Baekeland
Why? Plastic is pretty much used in everything in today’s society.
Where? Plastic is made by a wide variety of manufacturers
Chemistry's Role
The LED is composed of a semi-conductive wafer that is made in a large oven. Silicon is placed in the oven and metal impurities are stirred in so that there is a path for electrons to flow.These wafers are cut down into extremely small wafers that then have metal contacts connected to them. This is how the electricity is able to flow. Gold is then used to connect the two contacts that have the electricity supplied to them. The LED semiconductor is not naturally occurring and is man-made.
The plastic comes from natural substances like coal or crude oil. Plastic is refined into pellets. Plastic pellets are placed in a hopper. The plastic then falls into a heating chamber. When ready screw pushes the melted plastic into a mold of the desired shape and it is cooled.
Background Research
What is it? An LED or Light emitting diode is an electronic component that creates visible light when a current is applied.
What is it made of? Various chemical described below, plastic(the coating), the legs are made of tinned copper wire, and a semiconductor led chip.
What chemicals are in it?They are created of compound semiconductor materials, which are the elements from group 3 and 5 they are:
What are the Chemical reactions needed? When electricity flows through the chemical causing the electrons to become excited and therefore glow.
Components: Plastic, tinned copper wire, and LED semiconductor chip
Resources
About the Author
Kyle Eaton is a senior at Billings Senior High. He enjoys spending time doing various activities such as rock climbing, ice climbing, skiing, fishing, backpacking, hunting, and math. He is part of the National Honors society and he owns his own business. He is planning to attend Montana State University to attain a degree in engineering.