
Crystal | Definition, Types, Structure, & Facts | Britannica
Nov 7, 2025 · 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 …
Crystal Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary
CRYSTAL meaning: 1 : a small piece of a substance that has many sides and is formed when the substance turns into a solid; 2 : a clear hard mineral that is either colorless or very light in color and …
crystal - Kids | Britannica Kids | Homework Help
In science, a crystal is a certain type of solid object. Scientists describe matter, or everything that can be seen, according to the way it is made. All matter is made up of…
Structure and classification of crystals | Britannica
crystal, Any solid material whose atoms are arranged in a definite pattern and whose surface regularity reflects its internal symmetry.
Single crystal | Growth, Structure, Properties | Britannica
single crystal, any solid object in which an orderly three-dimensional arrangement of the atoms, ions, or molecules is repeated throughout the entire volume.
Crystal - Structure, Lattice, Symmetry | Britannica
Nov 7, 2025 · The most interesting crystal structures are those of elements that are neither metallic, covalent, nor diatomic. Although boron (B) and sulfur (S) have several different crystal structures, …
crystals - Students | Britannica Kids | Homework Help
The scientific definition of a crystal is based on its internal structure rather than its outward appearance. All matter on Earth is made up of atoms or, more frequently, combinations of atoms called molecules.
Rock crystal | Healing, Jewelry & Clarity | Britannica
Nov 21, 2025 · Rock crystal, transparent variety of the silica mineral quartz that is valued for its clarity and total lack of colour or flaws. Vessels and spheres have been carved from large crystals since …
Orthorhombic system | Definition & Facts | Britannica
crystallography, branch of science that deals with discerning the arrangement and bonding of atoms in crystalline solids and with the geometric structure of crystal lattices.
Mineral - Crystal Structures, Chemical Compounds | Britannica
Oct 31, 2025 · The crystal structure is the three-dimensional, regular (or ordered) arrangement of chemical units (atoms, ions, and anionic groups in inorganic materials; molecules in organic …