States of Matter - III: Solids
Key Concepts in Solid State Chemistry
1. Amorphous Solids
Amorphous solids are those in which the structural units (atoms, ions, or molecules) are fixed in place but lack a regular, repeating arrangement.
2. Anisotropy
Anisotropy refers to the directional dependence of a physical property within a substance. In solids, certain properties vary with the direction in the crystal.
3. Covalent Crystals
These crystals consist of non-metallic atoms connected in a continuous network of covalent bonds, forming strong and hard structures (e.g., diamond).
4. Crystal Lattice / Space Lattice
A crystal lattice is a three-dimensional geometric arrangement of particles (atoms, ions, or molecules) that repeats throughout the structure of a crystal.
5. Crystal
A crystal is a solid material whose constituents are arranged in a highly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions.
6. Lattice Crystals
These are solids where oppositely charged ions are arranged in a regular pattern and held together by strong ionic bonds (e.g., NaCl).
7. Metallic Crystals
In metallic crystals, metal atoms are arranged in a lattice and held together by a 'sea' of delocalized electrons, which provides conductivity and malleability.
8. Molecular Crystals
Molecular crystals are formed by neutral molecules held together by Van der Waals forces, making them generally soft with low melting points (e.g., ice).
9. Unit Cell
The unit cell is the smallest repeating unit in a crystal lattice that, when stacked in three dimensions, creates the entire crystal structure.
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