Difference Between Crystalline Solid and Amorphous Solid [with tabular form]

Solids can be classified as crystalline or amorphous on the basis of the nature of order present in the arrangement of their constituent particles.  

Difference Between Crystalline Solid and Amorphous Solid

What is crystalline solid

A crystalline solid usually consists of a large number of small crystals, each of them having a definite characteristic geometrical shape. For example, salt.

In a crystal, the arrangement of constituent particles (atoms, molecules or ions) is ordered. It has long-range order which means that there is a regular pattern of arrangement of particles that repeats itself periodically over the entire crystal

What is an amorphous solid?

An amorphous solid consists of particles of irregular shape. The arrangement of constituent particles (atoms, molecules, or ions) in such a solid has only short-range order. In such an arrangement, a regular and periodically repeating pattern is observed over short distances only. Such portions are scattered and in between the arrangement is disordered

Read also: Difference between Diamond and Graphite

Read also: Basic Chemistry Quiz | Try to Solve 10 MCQ

Difference Between Crystalline Solid and Amorphous Solid

Crystalline solid

  • Definite characteristic, geometrical shape 

  • Melt at a sharp and characteristic temperature 

  • When cut with a sharp-edged tool, they split into two pieces and the newly generated surfaces are plain and smooth 

  • They have definite and characteristic heat of fusion 

  • Anisotropic in nature (Physical properties change when measured in a different direction)

  • True solids 

  • Long-range order

Amorphous solid

  • Irregular shape 

  • Gradually soften over a range of temperature 

  • When cut with a sharp-edged tool, they cut into two pieces with irregular surfaces

  • They do not have definite heat of fusion

  • Isotropic in nature. (Physical properties remain the same when measured in a different direction)

  • Pseudo solids or super cooled liquids 

  • Only short-range order.

Difference Between Crystalline Solid and Amorphous Solid [Tabular form]

t

Crystalline solid 

Amorphous solid

Definite characteristic, geometrical shape

Irregular shape

Melt at a sharp and characteristic temperature

Gradually soften over a range of temperature

When cut with a sharp-edged tool, they split into two pieces and the newly generated surfaces are plain and smooth

When cut with a sharp-edged tool, they cut into two pieces with irregular surfaces

They have definite and characteristic heat of fusion

They do not have definite heat of fusion

Anisotropic in nature (Physical properties change when measured in a different direction)

Isotropic in nature. (Physical properties remain the same when measured in a different direction)

True solids

Pseudo solids or super cooled liquids

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