group three elements in the periodic table such as boron, B, aluminum, Al, gallium, Ga, or indium, In, have one less electron in the outer most energy level than silicon, Si. When these atoms are introduced into silicon, an impurity level is created near the valence band. At zero degrees kelvin the impurity level is empty, at room temperature sufficient energy is available to excite electrons from the valence band into the impurity level.
Because these Elements introduce impurity levels that accept electrons,
they are referred to as acceptors. See also donor.
