Crystalline solid unit cells

Crystalline Solids Unit Cells and Basic Structures 520... 

The main consequences of each step of the preparation procedures on the physicochemical properties of the solids (unit cell parameter, X-ray crystallinity, etc.) have already been described in ref. (18). However for the sake of clarity, the most important characteristics of the solids are given again in Tables I and II together with the dealumination operating conditions. 

The three-dimensional synnnetry that is present in the bulk of a crystalline solid is abruptly lost at the surface. In order to minimize the surface energy, the themiodynamically stable surface atomic structures of many materials differ considerably from the structure of the bulk. These materials are still crystalline at the surface, in that one can define a two-dimensional surface unit cell parallel to the surface, but the atomic positions in the unit cell differ from those of the bulk structure. Such a change in the local structure at the surface is called a reconstruction. 

The second choice is a simpler solution. According to Sarko and Muggli,66 all 39 observed reflections in the Valonia X-ray pattern are indexable by a two-chain triclinic unit cell with a = 9.41, b =8.15 and c = 10.34 A, a = 90°, 3 = 57.5°, and y = 96.2°. Ramie cellulose, on the other hand, is completely consistent with the two-chain monoclinic unit cell. Also, there are significant differences between their high-resolution solid-state l3C NMR spectra, indicating that Valonia and ramie celluloses, the two most crystalline forms, reflect two distinct families of biosynthesis. On this basis, the Valonia triclinic and the ramie monoclinic forms are classified69 as Ia and Ip, respectively. It has been shown from a systematic analysis of the NMR spectra by these authors, and from electron-dif-... 

From X-ray measurements in the liquid crystalline phase it is impossible to determine the conformation of the molecules in the condensed state. Computer simulations give us information about the molecules internal freedom in vacuum, but the conformations of the molecules in the condensed state can be different because of intermolecular repulsion or attraction. But it may be assumed that the molecular conformations in the solid state are among the most stable conformations of the molecules in the condensed matter and therefore also among the most probable conformations in the liquid crystalline state. Thus, as more crystallo-graphically independent molecules in the unit cell exist, the more we can learn about the internal molecular freedom of the molecules in the condensed state. 

Crystalline solids are built up of regular arrangements of atoms in three dimensions these arrangements can be represented by a repeat unit or motif called a unit cell. A unit cell is defined as the smallest repeating unit that shows the fuU symmetry of the crystal structure. A perfect crystal may be defined as one in which all the atoms are at rest on their correct lattice positions in the crystal structure. Such a perfect crystal can be obtained, hypothetically, only at absolute zero. At all real temperatures, crystalline solids generally depart from perfect order and contain several types of defects, which are responsible for many important solid-state phenomena, such as diffusion, electrical conduction, electrochemical reactions, and so on. Various schemes have been proposed for the classification of defects. Here the size and shape of the defect are used as a basis for classification. 

The principal experimental method used to measure the density of a solid is determination of the mass of liquid displaced by a known mass of solid. It is essential that the solid have no appreciable solubility in the liquid, that all occluded air be removed from the solid and that the density of the displacement fluid be less than that of the solid lest the solid float. Densities of crystalline solids also can be determined from the dimensions of the unit cell. Davis and Koch discuss other methods for measuring the density of liquids and solids such as hydrostatic weighing of a buoy and flotation methods. 

There is actually no sharp distinction between the crystalline and amorphous states. Each sample of a pharmaceutical solid or other organic material exhibits an X-ray diffraction pattern of a certain sharpness or diffuseness corresponding to a certain mosaic spread, a certain content of crystal defects, and a certain degree of crystallinity. When comparing the X-ray diffuseness or mosaic spread of finely divided (powdered) solids, the particle size should exceed 1 um or should be held constant. The reason is that the X-ray diffuseness increases with decreasing particle size below about 0.1 J,m until the limit of molecular dimension is reached at 1-0.1 nm (10-1 A), when the concept of the crystal with regular repetition of the unit cell ceases to be appropriate. 

Figure 1.1 Defects in crystalline solids (a) point defects (interstitials) (b) a linear defect (edge dislocation) (c) a planar defect (antiphase boundary) (d) a volume defect (precipitate) (e) unit cell (filled) of a structure containing point defects (vacancies) and (/) unit cell (filled) of a defect-free structure containing ordered vacancies. ...

The analysis of x-ray diffraction data is divided into three parts. The first of these is the geometrical analysis, where one measures the exact spatial distribution of x-ray reflections and uses these to compute the size and shape of a unit cell. The second phase entails a study of the intensities of the various reflections, using this information to determine the atomic distribution within the unit cell. Finally, one looks at the x-ray diagram to deduce qualitative information about the quality of the crystal or the degree of order within the solid. This latter analysis may permit the adoption of certain assumptions that may aid in the solving of the crystalline structure. 

Crystalline solids display a very regular ordering of the particles in a three-dimensional structure called the crystal lattice. In this crystal lattice there are repeating units called unit cells. See your textbook for diagrams of unit cells. 

The crystal lattice of a crystalline solid is the regular ordering of the unit cells. 

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