- How Many Atoms In Hcp Unit Cell
- Effective Number Of Atoms Per Hcp Unit Cell
- Number Of Atoms In Hcp Unit Cell Wall
- Number Of Atoms In Hcp Unit Cellular
The number of atoms in the hcp unit cell is 6. 3 atoms are placed in the middle of the unit cell. The contribution of each such atom to the unit cell is 1. 2 atoms are present at two face centers. It is clear that the 8 atoms at the corners contribute 1/8 of their actual volume each. In addition, one atom lies completely inside the cell. The number of atoms at the corners per unit cell = 8 corner atoms.1/8 atoms per unit cell 8.1/8 =1 There is one atom at the centre of the cube.
Hexagonal Closely Packed Structure(HCP)
The hexagonal closely packed (hcp) is shown in the figure 1.1.8. In the hcp structure of an unit cell contains three types of atoms as three layers.
12 corner atoms, one at each and every corner of the Hexagon.
How Many Atoms In Hcp Unit Cell
2 base centered atoms, one at the top face of the hexagon and another at the bottom face of the hexagon.
In addition to corner and base atoms, 3 atoms are situated in between the top and bottom face of the hexagon, in alternate vertical faces. Also note that these atoms are situated inside the face so that they can’t be shared by other cells as shown in the figure .1.10
(i)Number of atoms per unit cell
To calculate the number of atoms per unit cell, first consider the bottom layer. The bottom layer consists of six corner atoms and one face centered atom. Each and every corner atom contributes 1/6 of its part to one unit cell. The total number atoms contributed by the corner atoms is 1/6 x 6 = 1. The face-centered atom contributes ½ of its part to one unit cell. Therefore, the total number of atoms contributes ½ of its part to one unit cell. Therefore, total number of atoms present in the case of the bottom layer is 1 + ½ = 3/2
Effective Number Of Atoms Per Hcp Unit Cell
Similarly, the number of atoms present in the upper layer is 1 + ½ = 3/2
The number of the atoms present in the middle layer = 1 x 3 = 3
The total number of atoms present in the unit cell = 3/2 + 3/2 + 3 = 6 atoms.
(ii)Atomic Radius
To find the atomic radius of the hcp structure, consider any two-corner atoms. It has to be noted that, each and every corner atom touches with each other, therefore they are nearest neighbor.
From figure 1.1.8.1 we can write
![Number Of Atoms In Hcp Unit Cell Number Of Atoms In Hcp Unit Cell](/uploads/1/1/8/2/118293291/885880764.png)
Atomic Radius – HCP Structure
(iii)Coordination Number
The coordination number of the hcp structure can be calculated as follows. Let us consider two unit cells as shown in the figure 1.1.8.2
The hcp structure is considered to have three layers viz, 1) Bottom Layer [B1],2) Top Layer [T1] and 3) Middle Layer [M1] as shown.
In the top and bottom layers, the base centered atom is surrounded by six corner atoms. In the middle layer we have 3 atoms stacked inside the unit cell as shown. Let us consider two unit cells let ‘X’ be the reference atom taken in the bottom layer BL1 of unit cell 1(or top layer [TL2] of unit cell 2). This atom has 6 neighboring atom in its own plane. Further at a distance of c/2 it has 3 atoms in the middle layer (ML1) of unit cell -1 and 3 more atoms in the middle layer (ML2) of unit cell -2. Therefore, the total number of neighboring atoms is 6+3+3=12
Thus the coordination number is 12.
We know that ‘c’ is the height of the unit cell of HCP structure and ‘a’ is the distance between two neighboring atoms. Now consider a triangle ABO in the bottom layer.
Here A,B, and O are the lattice points and exactly above these atoms at a perpendicular distance ‘c’/2 the next layer atom lies at C.
(iv)Atomic Packing factor
Volume of all atoms in a unit cell(v)
Atomic radius r = a/2
No of atoms per unit cell, n =6
Number Of Atoms In Hcp Unit Cell Wall
Volume of all the six atoms in the unit cell
The volume of the unit cell of the HCP = base area x height
Thus the packing density is 74% and hence, it is a closed packed structure.
Example. Zinc, Beryellium and Magnesium