10: Crystal Morphology and Symmetry
- Page ID
- 17519
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KEY CONCEPTS
- The external symmetry of a crystal is the geometrical relationship between its faces and edges.
- Crystal symmetry is a reflection of internal atomic arrangement and symmetry.
- If a crystal has symmetry, the symmetry is common to all of its properties.
- By studying crystal symmetry, we can make inferences about internal atomic order.
- Crystals may have any of an infinite number of shapes, but the number of possible symmetries is limited.
- Crystal symmetry is the basis for dividing crystals into different groups and classes.