First slide
Crystal lattices and unit cells
Question

In hexagonal systems of crystals, a frequently encountered arrangement of atoms is described as a hexagonal prism. Here, the top and bottom of the cell are regular hexagons and three atoms are sandwiched in between them. A space-filling model of this structure, called hexagonal close-packed (hcp), is constituted of a sphere on a flat surface surrounded in the same plane by six identical spheres as closely as possible. Three spheres are then placed over the first layer so that they touch each other and represent the second layer. Each one of these three spheres touches three spheres of the bottom layer. Finally, the second layer is covered with a third layer that is identical to the bottom layer in relative position. Assume radius of every sphere to be 'r'. 

Moderate
Question

The number of atoms in this hcp unit cell is; 

Solution

Total no. of atoms in 1 unit cell of hcp 

=(12×1/6)+3+(2×1/2)=6

 

Question

The volume of this hcp unit cell is: 

Solution

 Volume of unit cell = Height × Base area 

 

 

 

 

                

=4r23×6×34×4r2=242r3

Question

The empty space in this hcp unit cell is:

Solution

 Packing fraction

= Volume of the atoms in one unit cell  Volume of one unit cell 

=6×43πr3242r3=π32=0.74=74%

 Empty space = 26%  

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