INTRODUCTION

Three phases of matter:

Gas
Liquid
Solid

Gas
molecules
*
Liquid
molecules
*
Solid
molecules
*

What is solid?

Definite shape.
Definite volume.
Highly incompressible.
Rigid.
Constituent particles held closely by
strong intermolecular forces.
Fixed position of constituents.

TYPES OF SOLIDS

Two types (based upon atomic
arrangement, binding energy, physical &
chemical properties):
Crystalline
Amorphous

Crystalline solids
The building constituents arrange themselves in
regular manner throughout the entire three
dimensional network.
Existence of crystalline lattice.
A crystalline lattice is a solid figure which has a
definite geometrical shape, with flat faces and sharp
edges.
Incompressible orderly arranged units.
Definite sharp melting point.
Anisotropy.
Definite geometry.
Give x-ray diffraction bands.
Examples: NaCl, CsCl, etc.



AMORPHOUS SOLIDS
Derived from Greek word Omorphe meaning
shapeless.
No regular but haphazard arrangement of atoms
or molecules.
Also considered as non-crystalline solids or
super-cooled liquids.
No sharp m.p.
Isotropic.
No definite geometrical shape.
Do not give x-ray diffraction bands.
Examples: glass, rubber, plastics.


Types of crystal structures

Ionic crystals
Covalent crystals
Molecular crystals
Metallic crystals

Ionic crystals

Lattice points are occupied by positive and negative
ions.
Hard and brittle solids.
High m.p. due to very strong electrostatic forces of
attraction.
Poor conductors of electricity in solid state but good in
molten state.
Packing of spheres depends upon:
presence of charged species present.
difference in the size of anions and cations.
Two types:
AB types.
AB
2
types.


Covalent crystals

Lattice points are occupied by neutral atoms.
Atoms are held together by covalent bonds
Hard solids.
High m.p.
Poor conductors of electricity.
Two common examples: diamond &
graphite.

Molecular crystals

Lattice points are occupied by neutral
molecules.
The molecules are held together by vander
Waals forces.
Very soft solids.
Low m.p.
Poor conductors of electricity.


Metallic crystals
Lattice points are occupied by positive metal ions
surrounded by a sea of mobile e
-
.
Soft to very hard.
Metals have high tensile strength.
Good conductors of electricity.
Malleable and ductile.
Bonding electrons in metals remain delocalized over
the entire crystal.
High density.