THE NATURE OF

SOLIDS
 How solids formed?
 A solid is formed when the
temperature of a liquid is low
and the pressure is
sufficiently high causing the
particles come very close to
each other.
 Solids are rigid because their
molecules have fixed
positions.
 Their particles hardly diffuse.
 CLASSIFICATIONS OF SOLIDS
 Crystalline solids
-are those whose atoms, ions, or molecules are
ordered in well-defined arrangements. They usually
have flat surfaces or faces, and sharp edges.
Examples: ice, sugar, and gems.

 Amorphous solids
-(from the Greek word for “without form”) are
solids whose particles do not have orderly
structures so they have poorly-defined shapes.
Examples: Rubber, plastic, and glass.
 Types of Crystalline Solids
Types of Crystalline solids Types of particles
Ionic Positive and negative ions
Molecular Atoms or molecules
Covalent network Atoms connected in a network
of covalent molecules
Metallic Atoms or molecules
Forces between particles Properties
Electrostatic attractions Hard, brittle, and poor
electrical and thermal
conduction
Hydrogen bonds, dipole- Soft, low to moderately high
dipole forces, and London melting point, and poor
dispersion forces thermal and electrical
conduction
Covalent bonds Very hard, very high melting
point, and often poor thermal
and electrical conduction
Metallic bonds Soft to hard, low to high
melting point, malleable,
ductile, and good thermal and
electrical conduction
Examples
NaCl, MgCl2, and Ca(No3)2
Most organic compounds like
CH4, and many inorganic
compounds like CO2, H20,
and Br2
Diamond, silicon Carbide, and
Quartz
All metallic elements like Cu,
Na, Zn, Fe, and Al
 The Crystal Lattice and the Unit Cell

 Unit cell is the smallest

portion of the crystal which
shows the complete pattern of
its particles.

 Crystal lattice is formed when

unit cells are repeated in all
directions.
Basic types of unit cells

 Cubic –galena
 Tetragonal –zircon
 Orthorhombic-topaz
 Monoclinic-gypsum
 Rhombohedral-calcite
 Hexagonal –tourmaline
 Triclinic – amazonite
Three kinds of cubic unit cells

 Simple cubic unit cell

-has an atom at each of the eight corners
of the cube.
 Body-centered cubic unit cell
-has an additional atom in the center of
its cube.
 Face-centered cubic unit cell
-has additional atoms on each of its six
faces where each is shared with another
neighboring cube.
 Phase Changes
 Melting – is the process where solid turns into
liquid – heat is absorbed
 Freezing- is the process where liquid turns into
solid – heat is released
 Evaporation – is the process where liquid turns
into gas- heat is absorbed
 Condensation- gas turns into liquid- heat is
released
 Sublimation –solid turns to gas- heat is absorbed
 Deposition – gas turns to solid-heat is released
Phase Diagram
Specific Heat –is the amount of heat needed to raise the
temperature of one gram of a substance by degree celcius.

 Specific heat = joules /g c = C

Q=mc t
Q=heat
C= specific heat
M = mass
Change in temperature= Temperature final – temperature initial
Heat of fusion and Heat of Vaporization

 Heat of fusion
-The heat absorbed to melt one gram of ice to one gram of water.
 Heat of Vaporization
- the energy absorbed to change 1 gram of liquid to gas at its boiling point.