Crystalline and Amorphous Solids
Solids can be divided into two classes: crystalline and amorphous. Crystalline solids have well-defined edges and faces, diffract x-rays, and tend to have sharp melting points. In contrast, amorphous solids have irregular or curved surfaces, do not give well-resolved x-ray diffraction patterns, and melt over a wide range of temperatures.
Crystalline solids, or crystals, have distinctive internal structures that in turn lead to distinctive flat surfaces, or faces. The faces intersect at angles that are characteristic of the substance. When exposed to x-rays, each structure also produces a distinctive pattern that can be used to identify the material. The characteristic angles do not depend on the size of the crystal; they reflect the regular …show more content…
The most frequently cited example of an amorphous solid is glass. However, amorphous solids are common to all subsets of solids. Most classes of solid can be found in an amorphous form. Amorphous solids can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as rapidly cooling from the molten state or seeding the solid with an additive that disrupts long-range order. Figure 12.4 Amorphous structure and example.
Comparison between Crystalline Solids and Amorphous Solids
Crystalline solids Amorphous solids
Crystals have definite and regular geometry and have long range as well as short range order of constituent particles. The particles in the constituent are arranged irregularly. They do not have any definite geometry and have short range order.
Crystals posses high melting points. They are devoid of sharp melting points.
The crystals external forms have regularity when these are formed. No external regularity in their form when these amorphous solids are formed.
They give a clean surface after cleavage with knife. Usually the amorphous solids exhibit irregular
Solids can be divided into two classes: crystalline and amorphous. Crystalline solids have well-defined edges and faces, diffract x-rays, and tend to have sharp melting points. In contrast, amorphous solids have irregular or curved surfaces, do not give well-resolved x-ray diffraction patterns, and melt over a wide range of temperatures.
Crystalline solids, or crystals, have distinctive internal structures that in turn lead to distinctive flat surfaces, or faces. The faces intersect at angles that are characteristic of the substance. When exposed to x-rays, each structure also produces a distinctive pattern that can be used to identify the material. The characteristic angles do not depend on the size of the crystal; they reflect the regular …show more content…
The most frequently cited example of an amorphous solid is glass. However, amorphous solids are common to all subsets of solids. Most classes of solid can be found in an amorphous form. Amorphous solids can be prepared in a variety of ways, such as rapidly cooling from the molten state or seeding the solid with an additive that disrupts long-range order. Figure 12.4 Amorphous structure and example.
Comparison between Crystalline Solids and Amorphous Solids
Crystalline solids Amorphous solids
Crystals have definite and regular geometry and have long range as well as short range order of constituent particles. The particles in the constituent are arranged irregularly. They do not have any definite geometry and have short range order.
Crystals posses high melting points. They are devoid of sharp melting points.
The crystals external forms have regularity when these are formed. No external regularity in their form when these amorphous solids are formed.
They give a clean surface after cleavage with knife. Usually the amorphous solids exhibit irregular