Crystalline and amorphous solids

Solids have definite shape and volume because the average distance between the molecules or atoms remain constant and do not change with time. The arrangement of molecules inside a solid differ from one to another. This results in two types of solids

• Crystalline solids

• Amorphous solids

In crystalline solids, the atoms or molecules are arranged in an order, extending over a large volume of the crystal. All the bonds have the same bond strength. Therefore, such solids have a precise melting point. They also have a uniform chemical composition. Examples of crystalline solids are quartz, calcite, rocksalt, sugar, mica and diamonds.

Amorphous solids on the other hand, do not have a regular and periodic arrangement of atoms. All the bonds are not equally strong. These solids do not have a precise melting point.

Examples of amorphous solids are rubbers, glass, plastic, cement and paraffin.