FROM UNIT CELL TO LATTICE




If we take the square unit cell S2 and stack it, we produce this square lattice.

Notice that once we begin stacking the unit cells, we never change the orientation of any subsequent unit cells as they stack.

In other words, once the orientation of a unit cell is determined, all unit cells within that lattice have the same orientation.



The hexagonal unit cell H1 gives a different arrangement of circles.

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In the figures below we have created lattices from unit cells. It is the stacking which creates lines and cavities which are not immediately obvious from looking at the unit cells.


S1 unit cell    S1  lattice

We can look at the S1 lattice as alternating staggered rows of solid and empty circles - both horizontally and vertically.

We can also see it as diagonal rows of alternating circles.


   S3 unit cellS3 lattice 

We can see lattice S3 as different diagonal lines of atoms, or horizontal rows, or vertical columns. If we rotate the entire lattice 90 degrees we see an identical pattern. This is a property of a square lattice.

H1 lattice
In the H1 lattice we can view the structure as parallel lines of circles along the X - axis, each line staggered from the next.

If we rotate the entire lattice  60 degrees or 120 degrees we see an identical pattern.  This is because the unit cell is hexagonal.

H3 lattice




In the H3 lattice, the pattern of lines is the same (every 60 degrees), but each line contains the repeating sequence (pink- purple-purple).
 
 

 Click here to go to the next page.

  Structure of Crystals
Crystal Lattices
Unit Cells
From Unit Cell to Lattice
From Lattice to Unit Cell
Stoichiometry
Packing & Geometry
Simple Cubic Metals
Close Packed Structures
Body Centered Cubic
Cesium Chloride
Sodium Chloride
Rhenium Oxide
Niobium Oxide
 

Except as otherwise noted, all images, movies and VRMLs are owned and copyright  by
Barbara L. Sauls and Frederick C. Sauls 2000.
Contact the owners for individual permission to use.    blsauls@kings.edu