EXTRA NOTES
MSCK 1413 Advanced Physical Chemistry
Properties of Solid
Types of solids
There are two types of solids: crystalline solids and
amorphous solids
• Crystalline solids
The atoms, molecules or ions are arranged in a regular
pattern (an ordered three-dimensional arrangement)
They exhibit anisotropic properties (measurements of
mechanical / electrical properties depend on direction)
They have sharp (specific) melting points
Unit Cells, Crystal Lattices and Crystal System
• A unit cell is the smallest basic unit of a crystal that can be repeated in three
dimensions throughout the crystal lattice
• A crystal lattice is the repeating pattern of particles in a crystalline solid
The figure shows a section of a crystal
lattice and its unit cell
Each unit cell is represented by the
lengths of sides (or cell edges) a, b, c and
the angles α, β and γ
(α is between the edges b and c, β is between
the edges a and c, and γ is between the edges
a and b)
Sample Problem
Calculate the number of atoms in (a) one face-centered cubic unit cell and (b)
one body-centered cubic unit cell
Sample Problems
(a) Copper crystallizes in a face-centered cubic lattice and the length of the
edge of a unit cell is 361.5 pm. Calculate the radius of the copper atom
Sample Problems
(a) Copper crystallizes in a face-centered cubic lattice and the length of the
edge of a unit cell is 361.5 pm. Calculate the radius of the copper atom
(b) Al has a face-centered cubic unit cell. The radius of an Al atom is 142.3 pm
(1 pm = 10-10 cm)
Calculate the density of Al (Molar mass = 26.98)
(b) Al has a face-centered cubic unit cell. The radius of an Al atom is 142.3 pm
(1 pm = 10-10 cm)
Calculate the density of Al (Molar mass = 26.98)
(c) Ni crystallizes with a face-centered cubic lattice. The edge length of a unit
cell = 352 pm. Calculate the number of Ni atoms if the density of the crystal
is 8.94 g cm-3 (Molar mass: Ni = 58.7)
(c) Ni crystallizes with a face-centered cubic lattice. The edge length of a unit
cell = 352 pm. Calculate the number of Ni atoms if the density of the crystal
is 8.94 g cm-3 (Molar mass: Ni = 58.7)
Sample Problem
Determine the coordination number of (i) the Na (bcc) structure and (ii) the
Zn (hcp) structure
Sample Problem
Determine the coordination number of (i) the Na (bcc) structure and (ii) the
Zn (hcp) structure
Summary of packing types,
packing efficiency and
Coordination numbers
(Packing efficiency is the % of cell
occupied by atoms)
Sample Problem
Determine the packing efficiency (% of cell occupied by atoms) for a simple
cubic structure
Sample Problem
Determine the packing efficiency (% of cell occupied by atoms) for a simple
cubic structure
Summary of
crystal
classification