Here are three different crystallographic planes for a unit...

Here are three different crystallographic planes for a unit cell of a hypothetical metal The circles represent atoms:
(a) To what crystal system does the unit cell belong?
(b) What would this crystal structure be called?

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Key Concepts

Crystal System

The crystal system is a classification of crystals based on the symmetry properties of their unit cells, such as the lengths of the cell edges and the angles between them. This system is essential for understanding how a crystal’s overall geometry is defined, and common systems include cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, and others. In problems involving unit cells, identifying the correct crystal system is the first step toward describing the structure’s symmetry and determining further properties.

Crystal Structure

The crystal structure refers to the specific arrangement of atoms within the unit cell, which includes both the underlying Bravais lattice and the basis (the group of atoms associated with each lattice point). This concept extends beyond the geometric shape of the unit cell to include how atoms are placed (for example, whether they are located at the corners, faces, or center of the cell). In materials such as metals, typical structures include body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), and hexagonal close packed (HCP), each with distinct arrangements and properties.

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