Question

Give any one difference between anisotropy and isotropy nature of solid?

Answer 1

Hint: Solids are of two types crystalline and amorphous. Isotropy is the property of amorphous solids and anisotropy is the property of crystalline solids.

Complete answer:
A solid is said to be crystalline if its constituent particles (i.e., ions, atoms, or molecules) are arranged in a definite geometric pattern in three-dimensional spaces so that there is a short-range as well as long-range order of the constituent particles.
 A solid is said to be amorphous if there is no regular arrangement of its constituent particles or at the most, there is only a short-range order of its constituent particles.
In the case of amorphous particles, properties like electrical conductivity, refractive index, thermal expansion, etc, are identical in all directions just as in the case of gases or liquids. This property is called isotropy and the substances showing this property are called isotropic.
In the case of crystalline solids, properties like electrical conductivity, refractive index, thermal expansion, etc, have different values in different directions. This type of behavior is called anisotropy and the substances exhibiting this type of behavior are called anisotropic.
So, amorphous solids are isotropic whereas crystalline solids are anisotropic.
Examples of crystalline solids are all solid elements (metals and non-metals)and compounds exist in this form.
Examples of amorphous solids are rubber, glass, tar, plastics, fused silica, etc.

Note: There are many other properties of solids like crystalline solids that have a sharp melting point but amorphous solids don't have a sharp melting point. Crystalline solids have definite heat of fusion but amorphous solids don't have.