short-range order

Short-range order refers to the arrangement of atoms or molecules in a material over a limited distance. Unlike long-range order, which involves repeating patterns throughout the entire structure, short-range order describes the immediate environment around an atom or molecule.1

All solids, whether crystalline or amorphous, exhibit short-range order. This order is a result of the chemical bonding between atoms, which holds the material together. In amorphous solids, such as glasses, there is no long-range order, meaning the atomic positions do not repeat in a regular, predictable pattern. However, the atoms are not randomly distributed; they maintain specific local arrangements dictated by chemical bonds. For example, in amorphous silicon dioxide (SiO₂), each silicon atom is bonded to four oxygen atoms, and each oxygen atom is bonded to two silicon atoms, demonstrating a defined local structure.12