Question

Calculate the number of atoms in a unit cell of a metal crystallizing

in a f.c.c structure.​

Answer 1

· Atoms on a corner are shared by eight unit cells and hence contribute only 18 atom per unit cell, giving 8×18 =1 Au atom per unit cell. The total number of Au atoms in each unit cell is thus 3 + 1 = 4. Metallic iron has a body-centered cubic unit cell (part (b) in Figure 12.5).