Question

Question: Will the presence of Frenkel defects change the measured density of a crystal?

Short answer

There is no change in the measured density of a crystal because each vacancy is accompanied by an interstitial.

Step-by-step solution

Frenkel defect.

It is a form of point defect formed after the movement of an atom or cation from its original position and taking some other vacant position (interstitial site) in the crystal.

The measured density of the crystal.

As;

$\text{density}=\frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$

When the ion moves from its place occupying the interstitial site, the overall mass of the substance remains the same, and therefore, there is no change in the density.

Sometimes in large numbers, the Frenkel defects cause a small bulging of the crystal and, therefore, a decrease in its density.