Amorphous and crystalline solids

Solids are much denser than both gases and liquids due to the presence of very
strong intermolecular forces.Solids are essentially incompressible (small
empty spaces) Solids have definite volume and shape (rigid, not fluid)
Solids are classified as Crystalline and Amorphous, on the basis of the nature of
order present in the arrangement of their constituent particles. Let us see what they
are.

(a) Crystalline solids: A solid is said to be crystalline if the various constituent

particles like atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a definite geometric pattern
within the solid, e.g., NaCl, KNO3, LiF, SiO2(Quartz) and CuSO4.5H2O.

The morphology of a crystalline form is often referred to as its habit.

NaCl

Types of crystalline solids

The units that constitute the crystal structure can be atoms, molecules, or ions
Ionic crystals

Lattice units consist of ions held together by ionic bonds e.g. NaCl.

Atomic crystals or covalent crystals

Lattice units consist of atoms held together by covalent bonds e.g. diamond.
Lattice units consist of atoms held together by covalent bonds e.g. diamond
Molecular Solid

Lattice units consists of molecules held together by van der Waals forces

e.g. Solid CO2. Lattice units consists of molecules held together by van der Waals
forces e.g. Solid CO2
Ionic and atomic crystals in general are hard and brittle and have high melting
points, while molecular crystals are soft and have relatively low melting points.

Metallic crystals

They are composed of positively charged ions in a field of freely moving

electrons. The atoms are held together by metallic bonding.

Metals are good conductors of electricity because of the free movement of the
electrons in the lattice.

Metals may be soft or hard and have low or high melting points.
(b) Amorphous solids: A solids is said to be amorphous if the various
constituent particles are not arranged in any regular fashion e.g., glass and rubber.
They are also called pseudo-solid or super cooled liquid. The word “amorph”
means “shapeless” .They are intermediate state between liquids and solids. Like
liquids, amorphous solids have a tendency to flow. They however do it very slowly
and hence are called pseudo solids or super cooled liquids.
Amorphous solids crystalline solids

The amorphous state is unstable compared to the crystalline solid (it has higher
energy than crystalline solid).

The pharmaceutical advantages of amorphous solid is its higher solubility and

bioavailability.

Its pharmaceutical disadvantages is its low stability (over time, amorphous solid
may transform to the more stable crystalline state).

.Difference between crystalline and amorphous solids:

1.) Geometric Shape

Crystalline solids have a definite geometrical shape due to the definite and orderly
arrangement of particles in the three dimensional space while amorphous do not
have an orderly arrangement of particles and therefore, do not possess a definite
geometrical shape.
2.) Melting Points

Crystalline solids have sharp melting point while amorphous do not have sharp
melting point. They melt over a temperature range.

3.) Crystal Symmetry

Crystalline solids have crystal symmetry while amorphous do not have crystal
symmetry.

4. Behavior when cut (Cleavage Property)

When Crystalline solids are cut with a sharp edged tool, they split into two pieces
and the newly generated surfaces are plain and smooth while When amorphous are
cut, they split into two pieces and the newly generated surfaces are irregular in
shape.

5.) Properties vs. Direction

Crystalline solids possess anisotropic properties, i.e., the magnitude of some of the
physical properties of crystalline solids like refractive index; coefficient of thermal
expansion and electrical and thermal conductivities is different in different
directions within the crystal while amorphous have isotropic properties, i.e., the
magnitude of physical properties is same in all directions.

6.) Heat of Fusion

Crystalline solids have a definite heat of fusion however amorphous solids don’t.