What is the Difference Between Lattice and Crystal?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚The difference between lattice and crystal can be described as follows:
- Lattice: A lattice is an infinitely repeating unit cells of space, which can be a mathematical phenomenon. It is a three-dimensional ordered arrangement of basic units, such as atoms, molecules, or ions. Lattices are crystalline structures with these repeated basic units.
- Crystal: A crystal is a solid material with a highly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. It consists of a regular repetition of a group of particles in three-dimensional space. Crystals can be naturally occurring on Earth as large crystalline rocks or formed through various processes.
In summary, a lattice is a concept that describes the structure of a crystal, while a crystal is a solid material with a highly ordered and repeating pattern. Lattices are often used to represent the structure of crystals, as they help visualize the arrangement of atoms, molecules, or ions within the crystal structure.
On this pageWhat is the Difference Between Lattice and Crystal? Comparative Table: Lattice vs Crystal
Comparative Table: Lattice vs Crystal
Here is a table comparing the differences between a lattice and a crystal:
Feature | Lattice | Crystal |
---|---|---|
Definition | A lattice is the underlying geometric framework that defines the positions of atoms, ions, or molecules in a crystalline solid. | A crystal is a solid material with a well-defined structure, consisting of atoms, ions, or molecules arranged in a repeating pattern. |
Geometry | A lattice consists of points in space, called lattice sites or lattice points, which are joined by straight lines. | A crystal has a periodic structure, with each atom, molecule, or ion represented by a single point. |
Structure | Lattice sites or points are together joined by a straight line in a lattice. | The entire structure of a crystal consists of this unit cell repeating in three dimensions. |
Types | There are two classes of lattices: Bravais and non-Bravais. | Crystals can have various structures, such as simple cubic, face-centered cubic, body-centered cubic, and more. |
In summary, a lattice is the geometric framework that defines the positions of particles in a crystalline solid, while a crystal is a specific solid material with a well-defined structure and repeating pattern of atoms, ions, or molecules.
Read more:
- Molecule vs Lattice
- Lattice vs Unit Cell
- Glass vs Crystal
- Crystal vs Diamond
- Crystals vs Quasicrystals
- Atomic Structure vs Crystal Structure
- Crystalline vs Polycrystalline
- Solvation Energy vs Lattice Energy
- Minerals vs Crystals
- X-ray Crystallography vs X-ray Diffraction
- Amorphous vs Crystalline Solid
- Crystal Field Theory vs Ligand Field Theory
- Crystalline vs Noncrystalline Solids
- Grain Size vs Crystallite Size
- Lattice Energy vs Hydration Energy
- Nanocrystalline vs Polycrystalline
- Lattice Site vs Interstitial Site
- Bond Enthalpy vs Lattice Enthalpy
- Polycrystalline vs Monocrystalline