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​ 4 )Covalent or Network solids:-

● In this type of Solids the constituent particles are atoms of Same or different
elements connected to each other by covalent bond network .
● They are called giant molecules
Examples: diamond , silicon,carbide,silica,etc.
​ ​Characteristics of covalent or network solids
i) They are very hard and brittle.Diamond is the hardest su
ii) They have very high melting points.
iii) They are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
iv) They have high enthalpies of fusion .
​ ​ Characteristics of diamond
i)​ Diamond is the hardest substance in nature

​ ii) It is an insulator

​ ​Characteristics and structure of graphite

● Graphite is soft.
● It is a conductor of electricity.
​ ​ Structure of graphite
Carbon atoms are arranged in different layers and each atom is covalently bonded to three of its neighbouring
atoms in the same layer. The fourth valence electron of each atom is present between different layers and is free
to move about. This free electrons make graphite a good conductor of electricity different layers can slide one
over the other .This makes graphite a soft solid and a good solid lubric
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Fig: Structure of graphite

​Crystal lattices and unit cells
Crystal lattice:​A regular three dimensional arrangement of points in space is called a
crystal lattice .
➔ There are only 14 possible three dimensional lattices . They are called ​Bravais
lattices.

Characteristics of a crystal lattice

(a)Each point in a lattice is called lattice point or lattice site.
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(b) Each point in a crystal lattice represents one constituent particles which may be an
atom ,molecule or an Ion.
(c)Lattice points are joined by straight lines to bring out the geometry of the lattice
Unit cell :-​Unit cell is the smallest portion of a crystal lattice which , when repeated in
different directions, generates the entire lattice .
​Characteristics of a unit cell
I. Its dimensions along the three edges ​a, b​ and ​c ​.These edges may or may not be
mutually perpendicular .
II. Angle between the edges, (between b and c) (between a and c) and (between a and
b).Thus,a Unit cell is characterized by six parameters a,b,c, , , and .

​Types of unit cells

(a) Primitive unit cells or simple unit cells
(b)Centered unit cells
​(a)Primitive unit cells :-​Unit cells in which the constituent particles are present only​ ​at the
corners are called primitive unit cells
​(b)Centred unit cells:- ​When a unit cell contains one or more constituent particles
present at position other than corners in addition to those at corners, it is called a centred unit
cell
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​Types of centred unit cell
i) Body-centred unit cell​-​In a body centred unit cell each corner is occupied by a Point and one Point
occupies​ t​ he the centre of the body of the unit cell
ii) Face centred unit cell- ​This unit cell Contains one constituent particle present at the centre of each face,
​besides the ones that are at its corners
iii) End- centred unit cell​-I​ n End- centred unit cell 8 lattice points are on the corners and one lattice point is
present at the centre of any two opposite faces​.

​seven primitive unit cells and their possible variations as Centred unit cells

​Calculation of atoms in a unit cell

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​ No.of atoms in a simple cubic unit cell=8 × ( corner atoms ) × 1
8
atom per unit cell=1atom
​No.of atoms in a body- centred cubic unit cell=8 × ( corner atoms ) × 1
8
atom per unit cell +1(body center atom)
​ =1+1=2
​ No.of atoms in a face centred cubic unit cell=8 × ( corner atoms ) × 1
8
atom per unit cell +6(face atom)
1
× 2
atom per unit cell =1+3=4