The Fascination of Crystals and Symmetry

Unit 5.4

NaCl

a simple-complicated structure

NaCl (Halite, Rock salt)

Space group

F m 3 m (# 225)

Crystal class

m3m

Crystal system

cubic

Lattice parameter
a = b = c = 5.625

= 90 , = 90 , = 90

each ion type forms a fcc (sub-)lattice

the sodium cations are surrounded by six

chloride anions, and vice versa
octahedral coordination spheres
CN = 6:6

Na+

Cl-

NaCl (Halite, Rock salt) Fragility

force

Cleavage perfect along {001}

tendency of crystals to split along
definite crystallographic planes

electrostatic repulsion

electrostatic attraction

6.7 x 1.9 x 1.7 cm

NaCl (Halite, Rock salt) the three viewing directions

Space group F m 3 m (# 225)

[001]
4/m

Full symbol F 4/m 3 2/m

[110]
2/m
[111]
3

reproduce this with the

3D structure (Vesta)

NaCl (Halite, Rock salt) International Tables

NaCl (Halite, Rock salt) multiplicity of 192

Add an atom at a general position in VESTA

Positions

Na4Cl4

NaCl (Halite, Rock salt) simply beautiful..

Picture Credits
If not otherwise stated pictures, images, sketches, clip arts are
self-taken/self-drawn or
public domain

Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com | CC-BY-SA-3.0

Dubravko Sori SoraZG on Flickr | CC-BY-SA-2.0