Abstract
A simple correlation between the high-frequency refractive index and electronegativity difference has been established for large number of A(N)B(8-N) type binary semiconductors. The proposed relation has been applied satisfactorily to evaluate the refractive index of binary semiconductors belonging to groups I-VII, II-VI, III-V and IV-VI. The estimated values of refractive index from present relation are utilized to calculate the electronic polarizability of compounds by applying the Lorentz-Lorentz formula. Our calculated values of refractive index and electronic polarizability are in good agreement with the values evaluated by earlier researchers.