Definition of a Liquid Crystal

The formation of liquid crystals is a direct consequence of molecular asymmetry. It arises because two molecules cannot occupy the same space at the same time and is largely entropically derived. 

A simple example of a liquid crystal may be considered using a sink filled with water. Onto the water surface, toothpicks are slowly added without overlap. At first, the toothpicks are random in order. However, as the surface becomes more concentrated, the toothpicks begin to align into small groups more or less side by side. Now there are two phases present the dilute, disordered phase, and the LC phase. The reason why the toothpicks order them- 

Introduction to Physical Polymer Science, by L.H. Sperling ISBN 0-471-70606-X Copyright 2006 by John Wiley Sons, Inc. 

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