What is the coordination number of atoms in a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice?

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Question: What is the coordination number of atoms in a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice? (2021)

Options:

Correct Answer: 6

Exam Year: 2021

Solution:

In a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice, each atom is surrounded by 6 other atoms, giving it a coordination number of 6.

What is the coordination number of atoms in a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice? (2021)

What is the coordination number of atoms in a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice? (2021)

Step 1: Understand what a face-centered cubic (FCC) lattice is. It is a type of crystal structure where atoms are located at each corner of a cube and at the center of each face of the cube.
Step 2: Visualize the arrangement of atoms in the FCC lattice. Each corner atom is shared by 8 adjacent cubes, and each face atom is shared by 2 adjacent cubes.
Step 3: Identify how many atoms are directly surrounding a single atom in the FCC lattice. Each atom in the center of a face is surrounded by 4 corner atoms from the same face and 2 atoms from the opposite face.
Step 4: Count the total number of surrounding atoms. You will find that each atom in the FCC lattice is surrounded by 6 other atoms.
Step 5: Conclude that the coordination number, which is the number of nearest neighbors surrounding an atom, is 6 for the FCC lattice.

Coordination Number – The coordination number refers to the number of nearest neighbor atoms surrounding a central atom in a crystal lattice.
Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) Structure – A type of crystal structure where atoms are located at each of the corners and the centers of all the cube faces.