4.2: Forming Crystals
- Page ID
- 17534
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The formation of crystals involves the bringing together and ordering of constituent atoms. Crystals grow from a small single molecule to their final visible form. This can happen in many different ways and settings, but the principle mechanisms are three:
• crystals growing as magma cools
• crystals precipitating from water
• crystals forming by chemical reactions
The drawing shows separate atoms coming together to produce a cubic crystal. In this example, the crystal is euhedral with six identical faces. But, even if it did not develop crystal faces, the atoms could still be in a cubic pattern, and the product material would still be crystalline.