Discussion: Solids

Solids can take many forms. In this chapter, we mainly studied crystalline solids. Many solids that we come across in our daily lives are amorphous solids. Choose a solid. Do some research and provide some information about it, including it’s composition. Classify it as a crystalline solid or amorphous solid. If it is crystalline, is it an atomic solid, ionic solid, or covalent solid? There are many examples in the textbook. Here are some potential topics.

• Carbon
  • Allotropes
    • graphite
    • diamond
    • nanotubes
    • fullerenes
• Ceramics
  • • Silicate ceramics
      • Clays
      • Porcelain
    • Oxide ceramics
    • Nonoxide ceramics
• Cement
• Glass
• Plastics and polymers
• Semiconductors

In your discussion, include the following

• Name and classification of the solid (amorphous or crystalline, if crystalline: atomic solid, covalent solid, or network covalent solid)
• Chemical composition of the solid. Is it a pure substance? If so, what is the chemical formula? Is it a mixture? If so what are the chemical formulas of the components. If all components are not known, what are the major components? Is a reaction required to form the solid?
• Information about the solid. Why did you choose it? Provide two particularly interesting or unexpected points about the solid that you learned from your research and think that the class would also find intriguing.
• 2 references

Grading

• A post written in paragraph form, that
  • Provides the name and classification of the solid
  • Adequately explains the chemical composition of the solid
  • Explains two things that were particularly interesting or unexpected that came about from research
• Gives two references