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Crystal Structure--- Phase Diagram

  • Page ID
    221936
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    Chemical Concepts Demonstrated

    • The effect of temperature on the structure of a solid
    • Body-centered and face-centered cubic

    Demonstration










    An iron wire is enclosed in a glass vessel (variac) and is purged with N2 or Ar to prevent a reaction with O2.

    A voltage of 6-8 volts is sent through the wire.

    Observations

    When the temperature of the wire exceeds 910 °C, the wire sags. When the variac is off, the wire returns to its inital dimensions.

    Explanation

    Iron crystallizes in a body centered cubic structure at room temperature. The density of iron in this phase (7.86 g/cm3) implies an atomic radius of 0.124 nm. At around 910 °C, pure iron changes from body-centered cubic to face-centered cubic packing. This phase change results is accompanied by a decrease in the density of the iron, and the iron wire sags. From this decrease in density, it is assumed that the atomic radius of the iron atom at 910 °C must be significantly larger than at room temperature.

    Contributors


    Crystal Structure--- Phase Diagram is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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