Principles of Crystal Chemistry

Catalog description

Relation of structure to ionic size and nature; influence of pressure and temperature on structure; chemical-structural defects, crystalline solutions, phase-transitions. MATSE (GEOSC) 512 Principles of Crystal Chemistry (3) Crystal chemistry is concerned with the systematics of crystal structures as determined by ionic sizes and characteristics of chemical bonds and with changes in crystal structure with variations in temperature and pressure. The course begins with a short review of crystallography. It then proceeds to elements and ions as the building blocks of crystals. Models for the chemical bonds which bind elements and ions into crystals include classical electrostatic theory, crystal field theory, molecular orbital theory, and band theory. The principles underlying each model are explained. The next step in the buildup of crystals is to explain the principles of ionic packing, crystal defects, and the concepts of polymorphism and phase transitions.With the underlying principles and theory in place, the second half of the course deals with a systematic presentation of the various families of crystal structures, their properties, and some indication of the practical utilization of the various structural families. The discussion proceeds from binary packing structures to packing structures of ternary and quaternary composition, to metal structures, to silicate structures, to organic crystals, to defect structures and non-crystalline solids.The course is divided into seven parts, and grading is achieved by a 30-minute quiz following completion of each part. There is no suitable textbook, but a comprehensive set of printed notes is provided as are recommended readings of selected review articles and current literature. Students are also required to prepare a semester paper on a topic of their choice.