crystalline vs amorphous solids whats the difference
Crystalline Vs. Amorphous Solids - What's the Difference?
Crystalline and amorphous are two basic sub-types of solids, which may look similar on the outside, but are actually vastly different from the inside. In this Buzzle article, we examine the difference between crystalline and amorphous solids.
Origins
The word crystal is derived from the ancient Greek word krustallos, which means both ice and crystal. The word amorphous too has originated from Greek words a (without) and morphé (shape), which together mean shapeless.Crystalline and Amorphous Solids
Crystalline Solids
By definition, a crystalline solid, also simply known as a crystal, is a solid material whose basic constituents such as atoms, ions, and molecules are arranged in a highly ordered and well-defined microscopic structure, known as a crystal lattice. These solids are formed in a process known as crystallization, wherein, the lattice structure gets extended in all directions.
Macroscopic single crystal structures too are found in nature having the characteristic crystalline shape, comprising flat faces and characteristic orientations. These include snowflakes, diamonds, table salt, etc.
Amorphous Solids
Amorphous solids are basically the exact opposite of crystalline solids. While an amorphous solid may display some finite order in terms of the arrangement of its atoms, ions, and molecules, it will clearly lack the long-range ordered structure that a crystalline solid exhibits.
The arrangement of elements in amorphous solids is mostly random and disorderly. Because of this, when amorphous solids are cut, they break into uneven pieces. Examples include window glass, various polymers, rubber, etc.Crystalline vs. Amorphous Solids
In the following lines, we shall compare the properties of crystalline and amorphous solids.
1) Characteristic Geometry
The atoms, ions, and molecules in a crystalline solid are arranged in such a way that they have a definite shape and structure, known as characteristic geometry.
In amorphous solids, such a characteristic geometry isn't present.
2) X-ray Diffraction
The elemental components of crystalline solids are arranged in regular arrays. Hence, when they are exposed to X-rays, each solid produces a unique diffraction pattern, which can be used for its identification.
Different amorphous solids don't show very distinctive diffraction patterns, as their elemental components aren't arranged in regular arrays.
3) Melting Point
Crystalline solids have sharp melting points, that is, they change into liquids at definite temperatures.
Amorphous solids, on the other hand, are thought to be liquids at all temperatures. This is because, on being heated, they do not abruptly change into liquids, but instead soften and start flowing in a semisolid form.
4) Cooling Characteristics
The graphical representation of the cooling characteristics of an amorphous solid gives a smooth curve, while that of a crystalline solid has two break points along the curve. These break points indicate the beginning and end of the crystallization process, during which, the temperature remains constant. This happens because, in the crystallization process, energy is released, which goes on to compensate for the heat loss.
5) Isotropy and Anisotropy
Amorphous solids display several of the characteristics of a liquid. Just like in liquids, in amorphous solids, properties such as electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, refractive index, etc., remain the same in all directions. Hence, they are known as isotropic materials.
Crystalline solids, on the other hand, have these characteristics in varying amounts in different directions. For example, light traveling through a crystal travels at different speeds in different directions within it. That is why crystalline solids are known as anisotropic.
6) Cutting
A crystalline solid, when cut using the right cutting tool, cleanly splits into two parts.
An amorphous solid, on the other hand, give irregular cuts, because of its uneven composition.