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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Solid State  ·  NEET & JEE

In an FCC unit cell, the atoms touch along the face diagonal. If the edge length is a, what is the radius of the atom?

Answer: a√2/4.

  • A a/2
  • B a√2/4
  • C a√3/4
  • D a/4

Correct answer: B. a√2/4

Explanation: Face diagonal = a√2. Along the face diagonal: 4r = a√2, so r = a√2/4.

Cubic Unit Cells: Atom PositionsSimple CubicCN=6, 52.4% packedBody-Centred (BCC)CN=8, 68% packedFace-Centred (FCC)CN=12, 74% packed (densest)Corner atoms (shared by 8 cells) shown lighter; body/face-centre atoms shown solid

The three cubic unit cells: Simple Cubic has atoms only at corners; Body-Centred adds one atom at the centre; Face-Centred adds one atom at the centre of each of the 6 faces, giving the highest packing efficiency.

Concept context

Explore the ordered world of crystalline solids: unit cells, packing, defects, and how structure determines electrical and magnetic properties.

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