Chemistry / Unit 8 Chem 1451 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Crystalline vs. Amorphous Solids
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The idea
A crystalline solid has particles arranged in a definite, repeating pattern; an amorphous solid's particles are frozen randomly instead.
In practice
Quartz forms ordered crystalline structure, while rapidly cooled molten silica of the same composition forms amorphous glass.
Where people slip
Crystalline and amorphous forms can share an identical formula — the distinction is arrangement, not composition.
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