Crystalline Solids

A crystalline solid has a well-arranged large small crystal. A crystal is an ordered arrangement of constituent particles (atoms, molecules, or ions). 

Crystalline solid has a long-range order which means that there is a consistent pattern of particle arrangement that repeats itself on a regular basis across the entire crystal. Typical crystalline solids examples are sodium chloride and quartz.

Difference between Crystalline and Amorphous Solids

A solid state is simply one of the states of matter. One of the many different states of matter is solid. Solids have a distinct volume, mass, and shape. Solids differ from liquids and gases in that they exhibit unique characteristics.  These solid states or shapes depending on how the particles are arranged in a specific or indeterminate geometry. There are, however, a few exceptions when it comes to the particles that make up the solid material. These particles are held together by powerful forces between them, irrespective of whether they are molecular, ionic, metallic, or covalent. Crystalline solids are made up of an array of particles that are uniformly arranged and kept together by intermolecular forces. On the other hand, the particles are not arranged in regular arrays in amorphous solids.

Solids are classified into two types based on the arrangement of constituent particles: 

  1. Crystalline solid
  2. Amorphous Solid

Similar Reads

Crystalline Solids

A crystalline solid has a well-arranged large small crystal. A crystal is an ordered arrangement of constituent particles (atoms, molecules, or ions)....

Properties of Crystalline Solids

Crystalline solids have a sharp melting point and begin to melt at a specific temperature. The shapes are well defined and also particle arrangements of crystalline solids are well-defined. Crystalline solid has cleavage property, which means that when cut with the edge of a sharp tool, they split into two pieces and the newly formed surfaces are smooth and plain. They have a distinct heat of fusion (amount of energy needed to melt a given mass of solid at its melting point). Crystalline solids are anisotropic. Anisotropic solids have physical properties, such as electrical resistance or refractive index, that differ when measured in different directions within the same crystal. True solids are crystalline solids....

Types of Crystalline Solids

Crystalline solids are classified into four types based on the nature of their intermolecular forces: molecular, ionic, metallic, and covalent solids. Let us now learn more about these classifications....

Amorphous Solids

Amorphous solids (Greek amorphous = no form) are made up of irregularly shaped particles. Short-range order exists in the arrangement of constituent particles (atoms, molecules, or ions) in such a solid. Only over short distances is a regular and periodically repeating pattern observed in such an arrangement....

Properties of Amorphous solid

Amorphous solids soften gradually over a temperature range and can be shaped into various shapes when heated. Amorphous solids are pseudo-solids or supercooled liquids, which means they move very slowly. If you look at the glass panes that are fixed to the windows of old buildings, you will notice that they are slightly thicker at the bottom than at the top. Amorphous solids have an irregular shape, indicating that the constituent particles do not have a definite geometry of arrangement. When amorphous solids are cut with a sharp edge tool, irregular surfaces are formed. Because of the irregular arrangement of the particles, amorphous solids do not have definite heat of fusion. Because of the irregular arrangement of particles, amorphous solids are isotropic in nature, which means that the value of any physical property would be the same along any direction....

Difference Between Crystalline Solids and Amorphous Solids

To help you see how crystalline and amorphous solids are not the same, here are some big differences between crystalline and amorphous:...

Crystalline and Amorphous Solids – FAQs

What causes solids to be rigid?...