Chemistry / Unit 8 Chem 1482 short lesson, about 20 seconds
The Simple Cubic Unit Cell
Captions available
The idea
A simple cubic unit cell has one particle at each of its eight corners, contributing one full particle total to the cell.
In practice
Alpha polonium is the rare metal crystallizing simple cubic, with a coordination number of six.
Where people slip
One-eighth of each corner particle belongs to that cell — counting a full particle at every corner overstates the contents eightfold.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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