Question

Distinguish between crystalline solid and amorphous solid?

Answer 1

Hint: Solid is all around us like a brick, coin, wood, aluminium foil, diamond. In these examples mentioned some have very ordered arrangements like diamond. Brick is another type of solid that is porous. Some solid broke into perfect face pieces and some not.

Complete answer:
Definition of solid: A solid is a state of matter characterized by particles arranged such that their shape and volume are relatively stable. The particles of a solid tend to be packed together much closer than the particles in a gas or liquid. The reason a solid has a rigid shape is that the atoms or molecules are tightly connected via chemical bonds. Force of attraction is maximum in solid particles. Solids are unlike liquids in that the intermolecular forces are strong enough to hold the particles in place.
Solids can have a wide variety of physical properties so they are classified into two main types and they are:-
1. Crystalline Solids
2. Amorphous solid
Crystalline solid is like diamond, which is very ordered and perfectly arranged. If we try to cut any crystalline solid, it will give a perfectly outlined cutting face.
Whereas, in amorphous glass. Glass changes its shape over time. And if we broke glass by mistake, no one can predict that glass will break into this particular shape. It will break into different shapes.
So this gives a clear viewpoint about crystalline and amorphous.
More will become clear after we study the table.
Now we will differentiate in between these two types of solids by one table.

	Crystalline solid	Amorphous solid
	A crystalline solid is that in which the constituent particles are arranged in a three-dimensional pattern called the crystal lattice with uniform intermolecular forces, and the particles intersect at angles characteristic of the crystal.	The word amorphous is derived from the Greek word amorphous which means “shapeless”. This is the shapeless, disordered, and irregular arrangement of the constituent particles of a solid.
	AnisotropicAnisotropic properties are direction-dependent. Different values in different directionsThe refractive index, mechanical strength, thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of crystalline solids differ in different directions	Isotropic“Isotropic refers to the properties of a material which is independent of the direction”Thermal conductivity, mechanical strength, electrical conductivity and refractive index are the same in all directions of amorphous solids. This explains where the name isotropic comes from.
	It shows a clear cleavage when cut anywhere in the structure. The three dimensional pattern seen using the X-rays is used to identify the solid.	When cleaved, amorphous solids yield fragments or curved surfaces because of irregular geometric shapes
	They are symmetrical. Means regularity in structure, its form in corresponding partsWe can predict the structure by observing only a single face. They can form regular repeating three dimensional structures called a crystal lattice..	Unsymmetrical in different directions means no regularity in structure.Not predictable. They have no particular order
	More rigid. They are difficult to bend or to deform its structure.	Less rigid. Comparatively easy to deform.
	Long range order. The basic criteria of long-range order are the symmetry and regularity of arrangement of particles, which repeat at any distance from a given atom	Short range order. Short range order refers to the regular and predictable arrangement of the atoms over a short distance, usually with one or two atom spacing. However, this regularity does not persist over a long distance.
	They have definite heat of fusion. The enthalpy of fusion of a substance, also known as (latent) heat of fusion is the change in its enthalpy resulting from providing energy, typically heat, to a specific quantity of the substance to change its state from a solid to a liquid, at constant pressure.	They do not have a definite heat of fusion. Means if we change amorphous solid enthalpy by providing energy. There is no definite knowledge about the temperature of melting to liquid.
	True solids	Pseudo solid or super cooled solid. Example: Glass
	Examples: Salt, sugar	Examples: polymers, rubbers, plastics and glass.

Note: Cleavage: In row number four of the above table, cleavage means to cut anything in two or more significant parts, so it is a property which makes the solids breakable in simple pieces. Crystalline solid gives similar structures after cleavage while the amorphous solids do not have any planned structure so they give irregular or insignificant pieces.
Always answer this type of question by making a table. Give a proper example to conclude the table. Always describe different properties in different rows.