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crystal lattice

crystallography
Also known as: space lattice

Quick Summary

A crystal lattice is the arrangement of atoms, molecules, or ions in a crystal, forming a repeating three-dimensional structure. Crystallography is the scientific study of these arrangements and the bonding of atoms within crystalline solids.12

The smallest repeating unit that can build the entire crystal lattice is called a unit cell. There are 14 possible configurations of these unit cells, known as Bravais lattices, which describe the orderly arrangement of atoms in a crystal. These lattices are categorized into six or seven crystal symmetry systems. Crystallography uses methods like X-ray diffraction to determine the internal structures and bonding of minerals and molecules.342

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