Crystal structure

In mineralogy and crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal. A crystal structure is composed of a unit cell, a set of atoms arranged in a particular way; which is periodically repeated in three dimensions on a lattice. The spacing between unit cells in various directions are called its lattice parameters. The symmetry properties of the crystal are embodied in its space group.

Related Topics:
Mineralogy - Crystallography - Crystal - Atom - Lattice - Symmetry - Space group

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A crystal's structure and symmetry play a role in determining many of its properties, such as cleavage, electronic band structure, and optical properties.

Related Topics:
Cleavage - Band structure - Optical properties

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