Question

What does distance between nearest neighbor atoms means?

Answer 1

This distance range can overlap with the distance range around another atom in the unit cell, and even with a second neighborshell for yet another atom. A possible distinction that will work in many cases is that the chemical nature of nearest and second nearest neighbors has to differ.

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Answer 2

Explanation:

In the solid state, the nearest neighbours concept is used to find out the radius of the atom. Atomic radius is the half of the distance between nearest neighbouring atoms in a crystal. For example a simple cubic unit cell: from the above figure, Distance between nearest neighbours (d) = AB = a.