HW # 2 Solutions

3.1 Atomic structure relates to the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom, as well as
the number and probability distributions of the constituent electrons. On the other hand, crystal
structure pertains to the arrangement of atoms in the crystalline solid material.

3.3 For this problem, we are asked to calculate the volume of a unit cell of aluminum. Aluminum has an
FCC crystal structure (Table 3.1). The FCC unit cell volume may be computed from Equation (3.4)
as

( )
3 -9 3 -29 3
VC = 16R 2 = (16) 0.143 x 10 m 2 = 6.62 x 10 m

3.9 We are asked to determine the radius of an iridium atom, given that Ir has an FCC crystal structure.
For FCC, n = 4 atoms/unit cell, and V = 16R 3 2 [Equation (3.4)]. Now,
C
nAIr
ρ =
V N
C A
And solving for R from the above two expressions yields
1/3
⎛ nA ⎞
Ir
R = ⎜ ⎟
⎜ 16ρN 2 ⎟
⎝ A ⎠
1/3
⎡ ⎤
⎢ (4 atoms/unit cell)(192.2 g/mol) ⎥

( )( )
= ⎢ ⎥
⎢⎣ ( 2 )(16) 22.4 g/cm3 6.023 x 1023 atoms/mol ⎥⎦

= 1.36 x 10-8 cm = 0.136 nm

3.11 For the simple cubic crystal structure, the value of n in Equation (3.5) is unity since there is only a
single atom associated with each unit cell. Furthermore, for the unit cell edge length, a = 2R.
Therefore, employment of Equation (3.5) yields

nA nA
ρ = =
VC NA (2R )3N
A
(1 atom/unit cell)(74.5 g/mol)
=
⎪⎧⎡
( ) ( )
-8 ⎤
3 ⎫⎪ 23 atoms/mol
⎨⎢⎣(2) 1.45 x 10 cm ⎥⎦ /(unit cell)⎬ 6.023 x 10
⎪⎩ ⎪⎭

5.07 g/cm3

3.15 For each of these three alloys we need to, by trial and error, calculate the density using Equation
(3.5), and compare it to the value cited in the problem. For SC, BCC, and FCC crystal structures,

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 the respective values of n are 1, 2, and 4, whereas the expressions for a (since VC = a3) are 2R,

2 R 2 , and 4R / 3 .
For alloy A, let us calculate ρ assuming a BCC crystal structure.
nAA
ρ =
V N
C A
(2 atoms/unit cell)(43.1 g/mol)
=
⎧⎡ ⎫
( )
3
⎪⎪ (4) 1.22 x 10-8 cm ⎤
( )
⎪
⎢ ⎥ /(unit cell)⎪ 6.023 x 1023 atoms/mol
⎨⎢ ⎥ ⎬
⎪⎢ 3
⎥⎦ ⎪
⎪⎩⎣ ⎪⎭

= 6.40 g/cm3

Therefore, its crystal structure is BCC.

For alloy B, let us calculate ρ assuming a simple cubic crystal structure.

(1 atom/unit cell)(184.4 g/mol)
ρ =
⎪⎧⎡
( ) ⎪⎫
( )
3
⎤
⎨⎢⎣(2 ) 1.46 x 10 cm ⎥⎦ /(unit cell)⎬ 6.023 x 10
-8 23 atoms/mol
⎪⎩ ⎪⎭

= 12.3 g/cm3

Therefore, its crystal structure is simple cubic.

For alloy C, let us calculate ρ assuming a BCC crystal structure.

(2 atoms/unit cell)(91.6 g/mol)
ρ =
⎧ ⎫
( )
3
⎪⎪⎡⎢(4) 1.37 x 10-8 cm ⎤⎥
( )
⎪⎪
⎨⎢ ⎥ /(unit cell)⎬ 6.023 x 10 23 atoms/mol
⎪⎢ 3
⎥⎦ ⎪
⎪⎩⎣ ⎪⎭

= 9.60 g/cm3
Therefore, its crystal structure is BCC.

3.17 (a) From the definition of the APF

⎛4 3⎞
n ⎜ πR ⎟
VS ⎝3 ⎠
APF = =
V
C a 2c

we may solve for the number of atoms per unit cell, n, as

(APF)a 2c
n =
4
πR 3
3

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 =
(
(0.693)(4.59) 2(4.95) 10 -24 cm3 )
( )
4 3
π 1.625 x 10 -8 cm
3
= 4.0 atoms/unit cell

(b) In order to compute the density, we just employ Equation (3.5) as

nAIn
ρ =
a2 c N
A
(4 atoms/unit cell)(114.82 g/mol)
=
⎡
( )( ⎤
) ( )
-8 2 -8 23 atoms/mol
⎢ 4.59 x 10 cm 4.95 x 10 cm /unit cell⎥ 6.023 x 10
⎣ ⎦
= 7.31 g/cm 3

3.20 This problem asks that we calculate the unit cell volume for Co which has an HCP crystal structure.
In order to do this, it is necessary to use a result of Problem 3.7, that is

2
VC = 6R c 3

The problem states that c = 1.623a, and a = 2R. Therefore

VC = (1.623)(12 3 ) R 3

( )
-8 3 -23 3 -2 3
= (1.623)(12 3) 1.253 x 10 cm = 6.64 x 10 cm = 6.64 x 10 nm
1 111
3.27 A tetragonal unit in which are shown the 11 and point coordinates is presented below.
2 2 42

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