Crystals - Introduction

Introduction

Crystals affect your life in countless ways, from what you eat to how your computer works. Any solid matter whose particles are arranged in a regular and repeated pattern is called a crystalNaturally occurring solid composed of atoms or molecules arranged in an orderly pattern that repeats at regular intervals.. The type of particle and its geometric pattern determine the properties of the crystal. Salt, sugar, and rubies are all crystals, along with many metallic elements, such as iron. Both natural rock and artificial materials are often crystalline. Our bones even contain tiny crystals of a mineral called apatite.

All crystals have flat, smooth surfaces, called facesThe flat, smooth surfaces of a crystal.. Some crystals, such as diamonds, are formed over millions of years, while others, such as snowflakes, are formed in a matter of hours. Crystals of the same substance have the same geometric pattern between its particles. This pattern is called a crystal latticeThe regular and repeating pattern of the atoms in a crystal.. In crystals the smallest possible repeating structural unit is called a unit cellThe basic unit of the crystalline structure.. The unit cell is repeated in exactly the same neat arrangement over and over throughout the entire material.