A crystal is a solid where the atoms form a periodic arrangement (quasicrystals are an exception, see below) Not all solids are crystals. Crystal, any solid material in which the component atoms are arranged in a definite pattern and whose surface regularity reflects its internal symmetry Crystals are classified in general categories, such as insulators, metals, semiconductors, and molecular solids. The crystal encyclopedia is the definitive guide to crystals, stones, and minerals
Find everything you've ever wanted to know about crystals! Crystals are nothing more than an ordered arrangement of molecules or atoms Crystals come in many different shapes and sizes, and each one has different characteristics What they are made of determines how it will form. For gemologists and mineralogists, the scientific definition of a crystal goes right to the atomic level A crystal is a solid whose atoms are arranged in a highly ordered repeating pattern.
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