Chemistry

Solid State and Crystal Structures

198 Questions

Solid state chemistry focuses on the structural properties of crystalline solids. Questions cover Bravais lattices, unit cells, and close packed structures. This topic is essential for chemistry papers in UPSC and state PSC examinations.

Bravais lattice typesUnit cell calculationsClose packed structuresCrystal densityBragg's LawWurtzite structure

Solid State and Crystal Structures Questions

Multiple choice

Why is it difficult to break an iron nail?

  1. Because its particles possess high kinetic energy

  2. Because its particles have strong forces of attraction

  3. Because its particles possess high mechanical energy

  4. Because its particles cannot be further divided into smaller particles
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Particles of matter in the solid state have strong attractive forces between them. This force, known as the force of cohesion, keeps the particles together. Particles of iron have very strong forces of attraction, and the particles are tightly bonded to each other. So, it is difficult to overcome these forces and hence, break an iron nail. 

Multiple choice

The total number of tetrahedral voids per unit cell in NaCl is

  1. 4

  2. 8

  3. Twice the number of octahedral voids

  4. Four times the number of octahedral voids

  5. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

NaCl has FCC arrangement of Cl ions. Hence, the number of Cl ions in packaging per unit cell= 4 Tetrahedral is double of octahedral voids. Thus, 2n= 8.

Multiple choice

Identify the incorrect statement(s):

  1. Pentaborane-11shows symmetrical square pyramidal geometry.
  2. CsBr crystal has face centred cubic structure.
  3. MgAl2O4 and Fe3O4 are identical in crystal structure.

  1. Only 1

  2. Only 2

  3. Only 3

  4. 1 and 2

  5. 2 and 3
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Pentaborane-11 (B5H11) has an unsymmetrical square pyramidal geometry, in which five boron atoms occupy the five corners of a square pyramid.
    1. The crystal of CsBr has a body centred cubic structure.
    2. MgAl2O4 and Fe3O4 have spinel structures. Hence, statement 1 and 2 both are incorrect.