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The crystal of alpha iron is

  • a)
    body centred cubic

  • b)
    face centred cubic

  • c)
    hexagonal close packed

  • d)
    cubic structure

  • e)
    orthorhombic crysta

Correct answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?
Most Upvoted Answer
The crystal of alpha iron isa)body centred cubicb)face centred cubicc)...
The crystal structure of a material refers to the arrangement of atoms or ions in the solid state. In the case of alpha iron, the correct crystal structure is body-centered cubic (BCC). Let's understand why this is the correct answer.

Understanding Crystal Structures:
- There are various types of crystal structures, including body-centered cubic (BCC), face-centered cubic (FCC), hexagonal close packed (HCP), and others.
- Each crystal structure has a distinct arrangement of atoms or ions, which affects the material's properties and behavior.

Alpha Iron's Crystal Structure:
- Alpha iron is a form of iron that is stable below 912°C. It has a BCC crystal structure.
- In a BCC structure, the iron atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern where each iron atom is surrounded by eight neighboring atoms.
- The lattice structure of BCC iron consists of a cube with an atom at each corner and one atom in the center of the cube.
- The BCC structure results in a relatively open and less dense arrangement of atoms compared to other structures.

Reasons for Alpha Iron having a BCC Structure:
1. Stability: At temperatures below 912°C, alpha iron is the stable phase of iron. The BCC crystal structure allows the atoms to arrange themselves in a stable and energetically favorable manner.
2. Allotropy: Iron exhibits allotropy, meaning it can exist in different crystal structures at different temperatures. Alpha iron is one of the allotropes with a BCC structure.
3. Phase Transformation: When iron is heated above 912°C, it undergoes a phase transformation to a different crystal structure, known as gamma iron, which has an FCC (face-centered cubic) structure. This further confirms that alpha iron has a BCC structure at lower temperatures.

Conclusion:
In summary, the crystal structure of alpha iron is body-centered cubic (BCC). This structure is characterized by a cube-shaped lattice with iron atoms located at the corners and in the center of the cube. Understanding the crystal structure is crucial for understanding the properties and behavior of materials in various applications.
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Community Answer
The crystal of alpha iron isa)body centred cubicb)face centred cubicc)...
The crystal of alpha iron is body centred cubic.

Explanation:

The crystal structure of a material refers to the arrangement of its atoms or ions in a repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions. In the case of alpha iron (also known as ferrite), the atoms are arranged in a body-centered cubic (BCC) structure.

In a BCC structure, one atom is at the center of the cube and the other eight atoms are at the corners. This structure is efficient and compact, allowing the atoms to occupy about 68% of the total volume.

It's worth noting that iron can exist in different crystal structures depending on the temperature. At room temperature, iron is in the alpha phase and has a BCC structure. When it is heated, it transitions to the gamma phase (also known as austenite) where it has a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure. Upon further heating, it reverts back to a BCC structure in the delta phase before finally melting.
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