Chapter 12: Problem 28
List three examples of noncrystalline solids.
Short Answer
Expert verified
Glass, plastic, and gel are examples of noncrystalline solids.
Step by step solution
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Understanding Noncrystalline Solids
Noncrystalline solids, also known as amorphous solids, are materials that do not have a definite crystalline structure. Unlike crystalline solids where atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern, the atoms in noncrystalline solids are arranged more randomly.
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Example 1 - Glass
Glass is a common example of a noncrystalline solid. It is made predominantly of silicon dioxide, and when it cools from the molten state, it does not form a regular lattice structure, resulting in its amorphous nature.
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Example 2 - Plastic
Plastics, particularly thermoplastics, are another example of noncrystalline solids. Their polymer chains are arranged in a disordered fashion, which gives them flexibility and resilience.
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Example 3 - Gel
Gels are noncrystalline solids due to their lack of a rigid, repeating structure. They are composed of crosslinked polymer networks within a liquid medium, forming a soft, amorphous structure.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Amorphous Structure
Amorphous structures are a fascinating category of solids where the atoms do not align themselves in a well-ordered, repeating pattern. Instead, they are arranged more randomly, similar to the pattern you'd find in liquids. This randomness impacts the physical properties of these materials, making them quite different from their crystalline counterparts.
In crystalline solids, atoms are packed into a highly organized system of repeating patterns, leading to characteristics like sharp melting points and clear-cut cleavage planes. On the other hand, amorphous solids may have a range of melting temperatures and can break along many different planes. Nevertheless, despite lacking the visual order of crystals, amorphous solids can exhibit remarkable properties that make them useful in various applications. For instance, they can be more flexible, have varied optical properties, and can be molded into intricate shapes without shattering.
Understanding the nature of amorphous materials helps in appreciating why some common materials, like glass and plastics, behave the way they do in everyday life.
In crystalline solids, atoms are packed into a highly organized system of repeating patterns, leading to characteristics like sharp melting points and clear-cut cleavage planes. On the other hand, amorphous solids may have a range of melting temperatures and can break along many different planes. Nevertheless, despite lacking the visual order of crystals, amorphous solids can exhibit remarkable properties that make them useful in various applications. For instance, they can be more flexible, have varied optical properties, and can be molded into intricate shapes without shattering.
Understanding the nature of amorphous materials helps in appreciating why some common materials, like glass and plastics, behave the way they do in everyday life.
Glass
Glass is perhaps one of the most well-known examples of an amorphous structure. It is primarily composed of silicon dioxide and is formed when the molten substance cools rapidly. This rapid cooling doesn't allow time for a crystal lattice to form, resulting in a noncrystalline, or amorphous, material.
Properties of glass include its transparency, hardness, and brittleness. Its amorphous nature contributes to these characteristics. The absence of grain boundaries, typical in crystalline substances, means that glass can exhibit a smooth surface which is perfect for applications requiring transparency, like windows or lenses.
Despite being a solid, glass's amorphous structure allows for slight deformation under stress, but too much force can cause it to fracture. This unique set of properties enables glass to be utilized in a diverse array of applications, from containers to sophisticated optical technologies.
Properties of glass include its transparency, hardness, and brittleness. Its amorphous nature contributes to these characteristics. The absence of grain boundaries, typical in crystalline substances, means that glass can exhibit a smooth surface which is perfect for applications requiring transparency, like windows or lenses.
Despite being a solid, glass's amorphous structure allows for slight deformation under stress, but too much force can cause it to fracture. This unique set of properties enables glass to be utilized in a diverse array of applications, from containers to sophisticated optical technologies.
Plastics
Plastics are versatile materials that are also considered noncrystalline solids. They are made up of long, tangled chains of polymers, which do not settle into a rigid, ordered pattern as they cool. This entanglement imparts plastics with some of their most useful properties.
There are many types of plastics, but thermoplastics are a prominent example of noncrystalline solids. These materials are known for being lightweight, flexible, and moldable.
Owing to their amorphous structure, plastics can be melted and reshaped without losing their integrity, enabling them to be recycled and reused efficiently. This property is essential in manufacturing, where plastics are molded into components for numerous products from consumer goods to automotive parts. Furthermore, the lack of a crystalline structure in plastics often grants them resistance to shattering, which is why they are used for so many household items.
There are many types of plastics, but thermoplastics are a prominent example of noncrystalline solids. These materials are known for being lightweight, flexible, and moldable.
Owing to their amorphous structure, plastics can be melted and reshaped without losing their integrity, enabling them to be recycled and reused efficiently. This property is essential in manufacturing, where plastics are molded into components for numerous products from consumer goods to automotive parts. Furthermore, the lack of a crystalline structure in plastics often grants them resistance to shattering, which is why they are used for so many household items.
Gels
Gels are unique among noncrystalline solids because they straddle the line between liquids and solids. They consist of a network of polymers that are interspersed within a liquid medium. This gives gels their soft, malleable qualities.
The polymer network within a gel complicates the structure, preventing it from forming a regular, crystalline pattern. Instead, gels maintain an amorphous form which results in their distinct squishy texture.
Gels have numerous applications, ranging from food products like gelatin and jellies to medical uses such as drug delivery systems. They are also found in many everyday products like lotions and hair gels, where their ability to hold shape while being soft and absorbent is highly valued. Moreover, the tunable nature of gels, varying from soft and spreadable to firm and resilient, makes them invaluable in both industrial and domestic contexts.
The polymer network within a gel complicates the structure, preventing it from forming a regular, crystalline pattern. Instead, gels maintain an amorphous form which results in their distinct squishy texture.
Gels have numerous applications, ranging from food products like gelatin and jellies to medical uses such as drug delivery systems. They are also found in many everyday products like lotions and hair gels, where their ability to hold shape while being soft and absorbent is highly valued. Moreover, the tunable nature of gels, varying from soft and spreadable to firm and resilient, makes them invaluable in both industrial and domestic contexts.
