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10.2: Solids

  • Page ID
    49489
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    The most obvious distinguishing feature of a solid is its rigidity. In the image below, you see fools gold, or pyrite. Like any typical solid, it is hard and rigid, especially when compared to a liquid or a gas.

    A rough, metallic mineral specimen with shiny, reflective surfaces and a dark gray color, featuring crystalline structures.

    On the microscopic level this corresponds to strong forces between the atoms, ions, or molecules relative to the degree of motion of those particles. The only movements within a solid crystal lattice are relatively restricted vibrations about an average position. This restricted vibration is due to the tight packing of the atom, as seen in the microscopic depiction of a solid below. Thus we often think and speak of crystalline solids as having atoms, ions, or molecules in fixed positions.

    Array of red spheres arranged in a grid pattern on a black background.


    This page titled 10.2: Solids was last modified on Thu, 20 Aug 2026 18:55:10 GMT and is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Ed Vitz, John W. Moore, Justin Shorb, Xavier Prat-Resina, Tim Wendorff, and Adam Hahn.

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