Crystal Structure
Learning Objectives
Identify the different crystals systems.
1. Crystalline
▪ Rigid and has long-range order
▪ Atoms, molecules or ions occupy specific
positions forming a “lattice structure”
▪ Have flat faces and distinct angles
2. Amorphous
▪ Lack of well-defined arrangement and
long-range molecular order. ( e.g.
Rubber)
Crystalline Amorphous
ordered
lacks
order
Crystalline Amorphous
Have definite shape and geometrical Do not have geometrical shape
form
Have sharp melting point Melt over a wide range of temperature
Breaks into pieces with plane surfaces give irregular surface when cut
Anisotropic Isotropic
• Their mechanical properties and • Similar physical properties in all
electrical properties depend on the directions because the constituents
direction along which they are are arranged in random order
measured
Crystalline SiO2 Amorphous SiO2
(Quartz) (Glass)
Crystalline Lattice
▪ The arrangement of the
particles in a crystalline solid
Crystal Lattice or
Lattice Structure
▪ The regular three-dimensional
arrangement of points in space
Lattice structure
▪ The basic repeating structural unit of a
crystalline solid (showing the pattern)
▪ Each sphere is called a “lattice point” that
represents an atom, ion, or molecule
▪ Repeating unit cells forms the “lattice structure”
of a crystalline solid
Lattice structure
Angle α is defined
by edges b and c,
angle β by edges a
and c, and angle γ
by edges a and b.
▪ Simple cubic cell (scc)
➢ The basic repeating unit in the
array of atoms
➢ Also called as “primitive” cubic
cell
or simple cubic cell (scc) (bcc) (fcc)
Corner atom Edge atom Face-centered atom
(shared by eight unit cells) (shared by two unit cells)
(shared by four unit cells)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNgRBqj9FS8
▪ Coordination number
➢ The number of atoms surrounding
an atom in a crystal lattice.
➢ Indicates how tightly the atoms
are packed together → results to
stability
➢ The larger the coordination
number, the closer the atoms are
to one another
CN = 4
CN = 6
▪ Simple/Primitive Cubic Cell
▪ CN = 6
▪ Body Centered Cubic Cell
▪ CN = 8
▪ Face Centered Cubic Cell or Cubic Close-Packed
▪ CN = 12
▪ Hexagonal Close-Packed
▪ CN = 12
▪ Hexagonal Close-Packed (HCP)
Example: Mg, Ti, Zn
▪ Cubic Close-Packed (CCP)
Example: Al, Ni, Ag
Importance of
Holes/Voids
- sites where electrons
can move (electrical
conductivity)
