Zaymiey

🧪 Chemistry  ·  Solid State  ·  NEET & JEE

The packing efficiency of a simple cubic unit cell is approximately:

Answer: 52.4%.

  • A 52.4%
  • B 68%
  • C 74%
  • D 100%

Correct answer: A. 52.4%

Explanation: Simple cubic has only 1 atom per cell; the spheres only touch along the edge. The packing efficiency is (π/6) × 100 ≈ 52.4%.

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.

Read the full Solid State notes →