ENME382, HW 3 Solutions

Problems from Callister & Rethwisch

These problems will not receive points, but you will be checked off for them. 

 
Problem 3.5
Show that the atomic packing factor for BCC is 0.68.

Solution 3.5
The atomic packing factor is defined as the ratio of sphere volume (VS ) to the total unit cell volume (VC ), or

VS
APF  (P3.5)
VC

Because there are two spheres associated with each unit cell for BCC

 4 R3  8 R3
VS  2(sphere volume)  2  
 3  3

Also, the unit cell has cubic symmetry, that is VC = a3. But a depends on R according to Equation 3.4, and

3
 4R  64R3
VC    
 3 3 3
Thus, from Equation P3.5

VS 8 R3 /3
APF    0.68
VC 64R3 /3 3

 
Problem 3.8
Strontium (Sr) has an FCC crystal structure, an atomic radius of 0.215 nm and an atomic weight of 87.62 g/mol.
Calculate the theoretical density for Sr.

Solution 3.8
According to Equation 3.8

nASr

VC N A

For FCC, n = 4 atoms/unit cell. Furthermore, because VC = a3, and a  2R 2 (Equation 3.1), then

 
3
VC  2R 2

Thus, realizing that ASr = 87.62 g/mol, using the above version of Equation 3.8, we compute the theoretical density
of Sr as follows:

nASr

 2R 2  N
3
A

4 / 87.62 /
2 0.215 ∗ 10 √2 / 6.022 ∗ 10 /

= 2.58 g/cm3

The experimental density for Sr is 2.58 g/cm3.

Problem 3.12
Titanium (Ti) has an HCP crystal structure and a density of 4.51 g/cm3.
(a) What is the volume of its unit cell in cubic meters?
(b) If the c/a ratio is 1.58, compute the values of c and a.

Solution 3.12
(a) The volume of the Ti unit cell may be computed using a rearranged form of Equation 3.8 as
 nATi
VC 
 NA

For HCP, n = 6 atoms/unit cell, and the atomic weight for Ti, ATi = 47.87 g/mol (from inside the front cover of the
book). Thus,

(6 atoms/unit cell)(47.87 g/mol)

VC 
(4.51 g/cm3 )(6.022  1023 atoms/mol)

= 1.058  1022 cm3/unit cell = 1.058  1028 m3/unit cell

(b) From Equation 3.7a, for HCP the unit cell volume for is

3a 2c 3
VC =
2
since, for Ti, c = 1.58a, then

3(1.58) a3 3
VC = = 1.058  1022 cm 3 /unit cell
2

Now, solving for a

1/3
 (2)(1.058  1022 cm 3 ) 
a=  
 (3)(1.58)( 3) 

= 2.96  108 cm = 0.296 nm

And finally, the value of c is

c = 1.58a = (1.58)(0.296 nm) = 0.468 nm
Problem 3.15
Niobium (Nb) has an atomic radius of 0.1430 nm and a density of 8.57 g/cm3. Determine whether it has an
FCC or a BCC crystal structure.

Solution 3.15

In order to determine whether Nb has an FCC or a BCC crystal structure, we need to compute its density for each of

the crystal structures. For FCC, n = 4, and a = 2 R 2 (Equation 3.1). Also, from Figure 2.8, its atomic weight is
92.91 g/mol. Thus, for FCC (employing Equation 3.8)

nANb nANb nANb

  
VC N A a3 N A (2R 2 )3 N A

(4 atoms/unit cell)(92.91 g/mol)

=
 3 
 (2)(1.43  10 cm )( 2 )  /(unit cell)  (6.022  10 atoms/mol)
8 23
 

= 9.33 g/cm3

4R
For BCC, n = 2, and a = (Equation 3.4), thus
3

nANb nANb nANb

  
VC N A a3N A 3
 4R
 3  NA
 

(2 atoms/unit cell)(92.91 g/mol)

=
 3 
 (4)(1.43  108 cm)  
 /(unit cell)  (6.022  10 atoms/mol)
23


  3 
 

= 8.57 g/cm3

which is the value provided in the problem statement. Therefore, Nb has the BCC crystal structure.
 
Additional Problems

Points: 3/10

Aluminum foil used to package food is approximately 0.001 inch thick (1 mil = 25 µm). Assume
that all of the unit cells of the aluminum are arranged so that a is perpendicular to the foil
surface. For a 4 in x 4 in. square of the foil (10 x 10 cm), (a) determine the total number of unit
cells in the foil and (b) the thickness of the foil in number of unit cells. The lattice parameter for
aluminum is 4.05 x 10-8 cm. (c) Confirm your result – do you get the correct density for Al using
your answer and the lattice for Al?
Solution
According to Table 3.1, the aluminum crystal structure is FCC, so the unit cell is cubic, with the number
of atoms in a unit cell n = 4.
-8
(a) The lattice parameter a = 4.05 x 10 cm. Therefore, the volume of a unit cell of aluminum
is
a3 = (4.05 x 10-8)3 = 6.643 x 10-23
The total number of unit cells in the specified aluminum foil is

10 10 25 10
3.763 10
6.643 10

(b) The thickness of the foil t is 25 µm, or 25 x 10-4 cm.

25 10
6.17 10
4.05 10

(c) According to the periodic table (Figure 2.8), The atomic weight for Al is 27.
According to Equation 3.8,

1 1
8∗ 6∗ ∗ 27
density 8 2 2.7 /
4.05 ∗ 10 ∗ 6.022 ∗ 10

The calculated density is close.

Mini-Lab 2

Points: 7/10

Upload the discussion and photo (and/or video) as part of this assignment.
・ Build your assigned crystal lattice (get it from ungraded quiz, online – it will be one of these:
NaCl, ZnS, BaTiO3, HCP). Make the lattices with things you have on hand or can
inexpensively make/acquire. You may use either hard-sphere or reduced-sphere
representations.
・ Discuss your material selection. Did you do a good job of choosing materials to construct
this structure? If so, what made it successful? If not, what could you have used instead
(other than Styrofoam balls)?
・ Extra credit will go to especially clever, beautiful, and large structures. You may also make
the diamond structure or ZnS for extra credit.
・ Bring the structure itself to show to a TA/TF. If it is too large to bring in, bring a video
showing how your structure was constructed.