Solid State

Crystal lattice, unit cell, types of crystal systems

Crystal Lattice

  1. A crystal lattice is a three-dimensional arrangement of points that represent the positions of particles (atoms, ions, or molecules) in a crystalline solid.
  2. Each point in the lattice is called a lattice point.
  3. The crystal lattice depicts the geometric arrangement of particles in space.
  4. The regular and repeating pattern of the lattice gives crystals their characteristic shape.
  5. The smallest repeating unit in a lattice is called the unit cell.

Types of solids: crystalline and amorphous

Crystalline Solids

  1. Crystalline solids have a highly ordered and periodic arrangement of particles (atoms, ions, or molecules).
  2. They possess a definite geometric shape and well-defined edges.
  3. Crystalline solids exhibit long-range order, meaning their structure is uniform over a large scale.
  4. These solids have sharp and characteristic melting points.
  5. They are anisotropic, meaning their properties (e.g., refractive index, conductivity) vary with direction.
  6. Ex
Solid State