Experiment No.

7
UNIT CELL MODELS
POST-LAB

Name: Score:
Program: Date:
Yr & Sec.: Group No.:

DATA AND RESULTS

Table 1. Basic crystalline structures

Volume Volume
Packing
Unit Cell Occupied by Occupied by
efficiency
atom unit cell
Simple centered
0.52 8r3 52%
cell
Body centered
64 3
cell 0.68 r 68%
3 √3
Model 1
Body centered
64 3
cell 0.34 r 34%
3 √3
Model 2
8√8r
3
Face centered 0.74 74%
Hexagonal unit
0.74 24 √ 2 r 3 74%
cell
Sodium
8√8r
3
0.74 74%
Chloride

ANALYSIS OF RESULTS
 1. Calculate the packing efficiency for each unit cell.

Simple Centered Cell:

4 3 atom
Volume of Sphere: πr : 8 corners x 1/8 = 1
3 unit cell

Volume of Unit Cell: a = 2 r

Volume Occupied by Atom

APF= x 100
Volume of Unit Cell

atom
∗4
unit cell 3
πr
3
APF= 3
a
1∗4 3
πr
3
APF=
2 r3

4 3
πa
3
APF= 3
8r

APF=0.52 x 100 = 52%

Body Centered Cell Model 1:

4 3 atom
Volume of Sphere: πr 8 corners x 1/8 = 1
3 unit cell
1 center = 1
4
Volume of Unit Cell: a = r = 2 atoms/unit cell
√3
Volume Occupied by Atom
APF= x 100
Volume of Unit Cell

atom
∗4
unit cell
π a3
3
APF= 3
a
 2∗4 3
πr
3
APF=
( )
3
4
r
√3
2∗4 3
πr
3
APF=
( )
3
4 3
r
√ 3

2∗4
π
3
APF=
12.32

APF=0.68 x 100 = 68%

Body Centered Cell Model 2 (Half):

4 3 atom
Volume of Sphere: πr 6 corners x 1/8 = 0.75
3 unit cell
4 1/2 center = 0.25
Volume of Unit Cell: a = r = 1 atom/unit cell
√3
Volume Occupied by Atom
APF= x 100
Volume of Unit Cell

atom
∗4
unit cell 3
πr
3
APF= 3
a
1∗4 3
πr
3
APF=
( )
3
4
r
√3
1∗4 3
πr
3
APF=
( )
3
4 3
r
√3
1∗4
π
3
APF=
12.32

APF=0.34 x 100 = 34%

Face Centered

4 3
Volume of Sphere: πr atom
3 8 corners x 1/8 = 1
unit cell
Volume of Unit Cell: a = 2 r √2 1/2 center x 6 = 3
= 4 atoms/unit cell

Volume Occupied by Atom

APF= x 100
Volume of Unit Cell

atom
∗4
unit cell
π r3
3
APF= 3
a
4∗4 3
πr
3
APF= 3
( 2 r √2 )

4∗4 3
πr
3
APF= 3
(2 √ 2) r 3

16
π
3
APF=
16 √ 2

APF=0.74 x 100 = 74%

Hexagonal Unit Cell

4 3 atom
Volume of Sphere: πr 12 corners x 1/6 = 2
3 unit cell
2 face center x ½ = 1
Area of Hexagon x Height: 3 mid plane atoms x 1 = 3
( √ )∗c
6∗ 3 = 6 atoms/unit cell
4
¿
a
3 3 2√ 2
¿ √ *
2 √3
= 3 √ 2r
 Volume Occupied by Atom
APF= x 100
Volume of Unit Cell

atom
∗4
unit cell 3
πr
3
APF=
a3
6∗4 3
πr
3
APF=
3 √2 a
3

6∗4 3
πr
3 a = 2r
APF=
3 √ 2( 2r )
3

6∗4 3
πr
3
APF=
24 √2 r
3

8 π r3
APF=
24 √ 2 r 3

APF=0.74 x 100 = 74%

Sodium Chloride

4 3
Volume of Sphere: πr atom
3 8 corners x 1/8 = 1
unit cell
Volume of Unit Cell: a = 2 r √2 1/2 center x 6 = 3
= 4 atoms/unit cell
Volume Occupied by Atom
APF= x 100
Volume of Unit Cell

atom
∗4
unit cell
π r3
3
APF=
a3
4∗4 3
πr
3
APF= 3
( 2 r √2 )

4∗4 3
πr
3
APF= 3
(2 √ 2) r 3
 16
π
3
APF=
16 √ 2

APF=0.74 x 100 = 74%

2. Compare the packing efficiencies of the unit cells and discuss its
differences.

The packing efficiency of a unit cell is the percentage of the total space filled
by its atoms.

ATOMIC PACKING EFFICIENCY

SIMPLE CENTERED UNIT CELL 54%

BODY CENTERED UNIT CELL 68%

FACE-CENTERED UNIT CELL 74%

HEXAGONAL UNIT CELL 74%

SODIUM CHLORIDE 74%

- Simple centered cell has 54% packing efficiency, and its atoms are only found
on the cube's corners.
- Body-centered unit cell has 68% packing efficiency, and the atoms are placed on
the eight corners of the cube and has one atom in the cube's center making it a
body-centered unit cell.
- On the other hand, the Face-centered unit cell, hexagonal unit cell, and Sodium
Chloride has the same amount of packing efficiency of 78%.
- However, the crystalline structure of hexagonal unit cell is different to face-
centered unit cell and sodium chloride.
 QUESTIONS

1. What are the coordination numbers for each unit cells used in this
activity? Illustrate.

Simple Cubic Unit Cell Body Centered Cubic Unit Cell

C = 6 C = 8

Face Centered Cubic Unit Cell Hexagonal Unit Cell

C = 12 C = 12

Sodium Chloride
C = 6:6