CRYSTALLINE SOLIDS AND

SYMMETRY
Geology for Civil Engineers
CRYSTALLINE SOLID
A solid composed of atoms or other microscopic particles arranged
in an orderly repetitive array.
Any solid material in which the component atoms are arranged in a
definite pattern and whose surface regularity reflects its internal
symmetry.
Properties of Crystalline solid
Crystalline solids have a sharp
melting point and start melting
when it reaches a particular
temperature.
They have definite heat of
fusion (amount of energy
needed to melt a given mass of
solid at its melting point).
Properties of Crystalline solid
The shape of crystalline solids are definite and having typical
arrangements of particles.
Properties of Crystalline solid
 They show cleavage property i.e. when they are cut with the edge of a sharp tool
they split into two pieces and the newly generated surfaces are smooth and plain.
 Crystalline solids are anisotropic which means their physical properties like
electrical resistance or refractive index show different values when they are
measured along with different directions in the same crystal.
 Crystalline solids are true solids.
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
 A crystal structure is defined as the particular repeating
arrangement of atoms (molecules or ions) throughout a crystal.
 Structure refers to the internal arrangement of particles.
 A description of the ordered arrangement of atoms, ions or
molecules in a crystalline material.
 Ordered structures occur from the intrinsic nature of the constituent
particles to form symmetric patterns that repeat along the principal
directions of three-dimensional space in matter.
CRYSTAL LATTICE
 The three dimensional arrangement of atoms, molecules or ions
inside a crystal is called a crystal lattice.
CHARACTERISTICS OF CRYSTAL LATTICE
 In a crystal lattice, each atom, molecule or ions (constituent particle)
is represented by a single point.
 These points are called lattice site or lattice point.
 Lattice sites or points are together joined by a straight line in a
crystal lattice.
 When we connect these straight lines we can get a three-
dimensional view of the structure. This 3D arrangement is called
Crystal Lattice.
UNIT CELL
 The smallest repeating unit of the crystal lattice is the unit cell, the
building block of a crystal.
TYPES OF UNIT CELL
1. Primitive Cubic Unit Cell
2. Body-Centered Cubic Unit Cell
3. Face-Centered Cubic Unit Cell
TYPES OF UNIT CELL
PRIMITIVE-CUBIC UNIT CELL
 The atoms in the primitive cubic unit cell are present only at the
corners
 Every atom at the corner is shared among eight adjacent unit cells
 Four unit cells are present in the same layer
TYPES OF UNIT CELL
BODY-CENTERED CUBIC UNIT CELL (BCC)
 In BCC unit cell every corner has atoms.
 There is one atom present at the center of the structure
 According to this structure atom at the body centers wholly belongs
to the unit cell in which it is present.
TYPES OF UNIT CELL
FACE-CENTERED CUBIC UNIT CELL (BCC)
 In FCC unit cell atoms are present in all the corners of the crystal
lattice
 Also, there is an atom present at the center of every face of the
cube
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
Crystal system refers to one of the many classes of crystals, space groups
and lattices. It is an approach for classification depending upon their lattices
and atomic structure. Based on their point group crystals and space groups,
crystals are divided into 7 systems.
1. Cubic system
2. Tetragonal system
3. Orthorhombic system
4. Monoclinic system
5. Hexagonal system
6. Rhombohedral system
7. Triclinic system
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
CUBIC SYSTEM
 Cubic system is the most symmetrical one out of the seven crystal
system. All three angles intersect at right angles and are of equal length.

Fluorite
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
TETRAGONAL SYSTEM
 The tetragonal crystalline structure contains three axes, and the central
axis has a different length (either shorter or longer than others). The other
two axes are in the same plane and have the same lengths.

Scapolite
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
ORTHORHOMBIC SYSTEM
 All three axes are unequal in length and all are perpendicular to one
another

Barite
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
MONOCLINIC SYSTEM
 It comprises three axes where two are at right angles to each other, and
the third axis is inclined. All three axes are of different length.

Orthoclase
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
HEXAGONAL SYSTEM
 This system has four axes; 3 are of equal length and lies on the same
plane. They intersect at 120 degrees, and the 4th axis intersects the other
at right angles.

Apatite
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
RHOMBOHEDRAL SYSTEM
 All three axes are of equal length and none of the axes is perpendicular to
one another. Crystal faces all have the same size and shape.

Calcite
CRYSTAL SYSTEM
TRICLINIC SYSTEM
 It is the most unsymmetrical crystal system. All three axes are inclined
towards each other, and they are of unequal length. Based on the three
inclined angles the various forms of crystals are in the paired faces.

Microcline