CHAPTER 3
STRUCTURES OF METALS AND CERAMICS
PROBLEM SOLUTIONS
Unit Cells
Metallic Crystal Structures
3.2 Show that the atomic packing factor for BCC is 0.68.
Solution
The atomic packing factor is defined as the ratio of sphere volume to the total unit cell volume, or
APF =
VS
VC
Since there are two spheres associated with each unit cell for BCC
4R3 8R3
VS = 2(sphere volume) = 2
3
=
3
Also, the unit cell has cubic symmetry, that is VC = a3. But a depends on R according to Equation 3.3, and
4R
64 R3
VC = =
3
3 3
3
Thus,
APF =
VS
VC
8 R3 /3
= 0.68
64 R3 /3 3
Density Computations--Metals
3.3 Molybdenum has a BCC crystal structure, an atomic radius of 0.1363 nm, and an atomic weight of 95.94 g/mol.
Compute its theoretical density and compare it with the experimental value found inside the front cover.
Solution
This problem calls for a computation of the density of molybdenum. According to Equation 3.5
nAMo
VC N A
For BCC, n = 2 atoms/unit cell, and realizing that VC = a3, and using Equation 3.3
4 R
VC =
3
Thus,
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nAMo
4 R 3
N A
3
(2 atoms/unit cell)(95.94 g/mol)
(4) (0.1363
10-7
cm) / 3
/(unit cell) (6.02 1023 atoms/mol)
3
= 10.22 g/cm3
The value given inside the front cover is 10.22 g/cm3.
3.4 Calculate the radius of a palladium atom, given that Pd has an FCC crystal structure, a density of 12.0 g/cm3,
and an atomic weight of 106.4 g/mol.
Solution
For FCC, n = 4 atoms/unit cell, and VC = 16R3 2 (Equation 3.4). Now,
nAPd
VC N A
nAPd
(16R3 2 ) N A
And solving for R from the above expression yields
nA
1/3
Pd
R =
16N 2
1/3
(4 atoms/unit cell)106.4 g/mol
=
3
23
(16)(12.0 g/cm )(6.02 10 atoms/mol)( 2 )
= 1.38 10-8 cm = 0.138 nm
Ceramic Crystal Structures
3.10 Show that the minimum cation-to-anion radius ratio for a coordination number of 4 is 0.225.
Solution
In this problem we are asked to show that the minimum cation-to-anion radius ratio for a coordination number of
four is 0.225. If lines are drawn from the centers of the anions, then a tetrahedron is formed. The tetrahedron may
be inscribed within a cube as shown below.
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The spheres at the apexes of the tetrahedron are drawn at the corners of the cube, and designated as positions A, B,
C, and D. (These are reduced in size for the sake of clarity.) The cation resides at the center of the cube, which is
designated as point E. Let us now express the cation and anion radii in terms of the cube edge length, designated as
a. The spheres located at positions A and B touch each other along the bottom face diagonal. Thus,
AB = 2rA
But
(AB)2 a2 a2 2a2
or
AB = a 2 = 2rA
And
a =
2rA
2
There will also be an anion located at the corner, point F (not drawn), and the cube diagonal AEF will be related to
the ionic radii as
AEF = 2(rA + rC )
(The line AEF has not been drawn to avoid confusion.) From the triangle ABF
(AB)2 + (FB)2 = (AEF)2
But,
FB = a =
2rA
2
and
AB = 2rA
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from above. Thus,
2rA 2
2
= 2 (rA + rC )
2
(2rA )2 +
Solving for the rC/rA ratio leads to
6 2
= 0.225
2
rC
=
rA
Density Computations--Ceramics
3.13 Compute the atomic packing factor for the rock salt crystal structure in which rC/rA = 0.414.
Solution
From Equation 3.2
APF =
VS
VC
With regard to the sphere volume, VS, there are four cation and four anion spheres per unit cell. Thus,
VS = (4) rA3 + (4) rC3
3
But, since rC/rA = 0.414
VS =
16 3
r 1 (0.414)3 = (17.94) rA3
3 A
Now, for rC/rA = 0.414 the corner anions in Table 3.3 just touch one another along the cubic unit cell edges such
that
VC = a3 = 2 (rA rC )
2 (rA 0.414rA ) (22.62) rA3
3
Thus
APF =
VS
(17.94) rA3
=
= 0.79
VC
(22.62) rA3
Silicate Ceramics
3.18 Determine the angle between covalent bonds in an SiO44 tetrahedron.
Solution
This problem asks for us to determine the angle between covalent bonds in the SiO4
4 tetrahedron. Below
is shown one such tetrahedron situated within a cube.
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Now if we extend the base diagonal from one corner to the other, it is the case that
(2 y)2 = a2 + a2 = 2a2
or
y =
a 2
2
Furthermore, x = a/2, and
x
a /2
1
tan =
=
=
y a 2 /2
2
From which
1
= tan-1 35.26
2
Now, solving for the angle
= 180 90 35.26 = 54.74
Finally, the bond angle is just 2, or 2 = (2)(54.74) = 109.48.
Crystal Systems
3.21 Sketch a unit cell for the face-centered orthorhombic crystal structure.
Solution
A unit cell for the face-centered orthorhombic crystal structure is presented below.
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