Chapter 5

Structure–Property Relationships

Initial structure–property relationships have been studied using examples like

‘‘diamond/graphite’’ and ‘‘white/red phosphorus’’ (see Sect. 4.3), the modifica-
tions have been established from the same C atoms or P atoms respectively.
However, the substances are drastically different in their chemical structure
and therefore in their characteristic properties. The misconceptions could be
corrected with the consideration that the individual C atom or P atom show
absolutely no properties like color or density. Such characteristics can be
determined only when a little crystal is visible (see Sect. 4.3).
It is much easier to explain the concept of structure–property relationship
when one combines both chemical structure and chemical bonding in the discus-
sion. One can then refer back to volatility, solubility, melting or boiling behavior
of materials in relation to the question of bonding between atoms, ions and
molecules. Connections between structure and properties also play a big role in
the following themes: homologous series, functional groups, stereochemistry,
dyes, synthetics, carbohydrates, fats, proteins, etc. It is not, at first, necessary to
take these familiar themes from organic chemistry into consideration because the
discussion requires the electron-pair bonding and also the wave-particle duality
of the electron that naturally cannot be understood, and it is not possible to avoid
misconceptions.
It would be better to produce examples regarding the structure–property
relationships that do not require chemical bonding models, but can be answered
using chemical structures (see Fig. 2.3). Examples of this would be the structures
of metals and alloys with their specific arrangements of atoms and the struc-
tures of salts and those arrangements of ions.

5.1 Structure and Properties of Metals and Alloys

‘‘Iron atoms can rust and turn red-brown in color; iron atoms are hard, lead
atoms are soft; bass atoms are shiny-gold’’.
This conflict between properties of a substance on the one hand and
characteristics of a single atom on the other hand is easily formed because

H.-D. Barke et al., Misconceptions in Chemistry, DOI 10.1007/978_3_540_70988_6_5, 103

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arrangements of many atoms are so seldom used in chemistry lessons for

explaining the properties of substances, especially the properties of metals and
alloys. As long as one continues to examine and discuss the single atom, many
students stick with such ideas: ‘‘the gold atom is yellow’’.
These facts have already been discussed in the examples of diamond/graphite
and red/white phosphorus (see Sect. 4.3). The varying properties can be shown
by differences in chemical structures. However, these structures are not easy to
understand. Because it is possible to correctly demonstrate the arrangement of
metal atoms using closest-sphere packing models, it is useful to look at metal
structures with regard to the property–structure relationships and try to address
the above-mentioned misconceptions.
Teaching and Learning Suggestions. It is not possible to find such aestheti-
cally pleasing metal crystals compared to salt crystals, for instance nicely
formed alum crystals (see Fig. 4.4). Metal crystals can be obtained through
precipitation from saline solutions (E4.4) or easily prepared by electrolytic
deposition (see E5.1). Very impressive trees of silver crystals can be formed
from a silver salt solution (see Fig. 5.2).
The arrangement of Ag atoms in silver crystals can be described as cubic
closest packing of spheres in space: each sphere corresponds to an Ag atom in
the packing model. The study of closest sphere packings leads to two different
stacking sequences (see E5.2): (1) triangular layers in the sequence of ABCABC,
and (2) in the sequence of ABABAB can be stacked (see Fig. 5.3). The coordi-
nation number 12 can be seen in both of the closest packings (see Fig. 5.3): each
sphere is surrounded by six spheres in one layer, plus three from above, and
three from below (see E5.2 ). Both stacking sequences lead to pyramidal shapes,
in every one basic hexagonal elements can be detected (see Fig. 5.4).

Fig. 5.2 Silver crystals through electrolysis [1]