Question

Distinguish between crystalline solid and amorphous solid.

Answer 1

Hint:. The structures of solids are categorised into two types i.e. crystalline solids and amorphous solids. The crystalline solids are the true solids whereas, the amorphous solids are the pseudo solids or supercooled solids.

Complete step by step answer:
Let us have a look towards both of them:

Crystalline solids	Amorphous solids
The constituent particles are arranged in a three-dimensional pattern.	They are shapeless and disordered in the arrangement of constituent particles.
Uniform intermolecular forces.	Non-uniform intermolecular forces.
They are anisotropic.	They are isotropic.
Shows clear cleavage when cut from anywhere.	Do not show clear cleavage due to irregular geometric shapes.
They are symmetrical.	They are not symmetrical.
They are more rigid i.e. difficult to deform.	They are less rigid i.e. can be readily deformed.
They have definite heat of fusion.	They do not have a definite heat of fusion.
They have a sharp melting point.	They don’t have a particular melting point.
For example: Diamond, salt, sugar, etc.	For example: plastics, glass, etc.

Note: Do note to solve such problems by always drawing a table showing differences in the two given terms.
- In the given table, cleavage means to break the solid into the pieces. Anisotropic means the properties of the metal will be dependent on the direction of the particle whereas, isotropic means the properties will remain identical in all directions.