Usual crystal structures[edit]

Close packed metal structures[edit]

Many metals adopt close packed structures i.e. hexagonal close packed and face
centred cubic structures (cubic close packed). A simple model for both of these is to
assume that the metal atoms are spherical and are packed together in the most
efficient way (close packing or closest packing). In closest packing every atom has
12 equidistant nearest neighbours, and therefore a coordination number of 12. If
the close packed structures are considered as being built of layers of spheres then
the difference between hexagonal close packing and face centred cubic is how each
layer is positioned relative to others. Whilst there are many ways that can be
envisaged for a regular buildup of layers:

 hexagonal close packing has alternate layers positioned directly above/below

each other, A,B,A,B, ......... (also termed P63/mmc, Pearson symbol hP2,

strukturbericht A3) .

 face centered cubic has every third layer directly above/below each

other,A,B,C,A,B,C,.......(also termed cubic close packing, Fm3m, Pearson symbol

cF4, strukturbericht A1) .

 double hexagonal close packing has layers directly above/below each other,

A,B,A,C,A,B,A,C,.... of period length 4 like an alternative mixture of fcc and hcp

packing (also termed P63/mmc, Pearson Symbol hP4, strukturbericht A3' ).[8]

 α-Sm packing has a period of 9 layers A,B,A,B,C,B,C,A,C,.... (R3m, Pearson

Symbol hR3, strukturbericht C19).[9]

Hexagonal close packed[edit]

In the ideal hcp structure the unit cell axial ratio is ~ 1.633, However, there
are deviations from this in some metals where the unit cell is distorted in one
direction but the structure still retains the hcp space group—remarkable all the
elements have a ratio of lattice parameters c/a < 1.633 (best are Mg and Co and
worst Be with c/a ~ 1.568). In others like Zn and Cd the deviations from the ideal
change the symmetry of the structure and these have a lattice parameter ratio c/a
> 1.85.

Face centered cubic (cubic close packed)[edit]

More content relating to number of planes within structure and implications for
glide/slide e.g. ductility.
Double hexagonal close packed[edit]

Similar to the ideal hcp structure, the perfect dhcp structure should have a lattice

parameter ratio of ~ 3.267. In the real dhcp structures of 5 lanthanides

(including β-Ce) variates between 1.596 (Pm) and 1.6128 (Nd). For the 4
known actinides dhcp lattices the corresponding number vary between 1.620 (Bk)
and 1.625 (Cf).[10]

Body centred cubic[edit]

This is not a close packed structure. In this each metal atom is at the centre of a
cube with 8 nearest neighbors, however the 6 atoms at the centres of the adjacent
cubes are only approximately 15% further away so the coordination number can
therefore be considered to be 14 when these are ong one 4 fold axe structure
becomes face centred cubic (cubic close packed).