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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.

    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.


    This page titled 10.2: Solids 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, & Adam Hahn.

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