Solid solution: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

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Solid solution

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	Solid solution
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	Topics Solid solution Topic Home A solid solution is a solidSolid A solid object is in the phase of matter characterized by resistance to deformation and changes of volume.... -statePhase (matter) In the physical sciences, a phase is a set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical ... solutionSolution In chemistry, a solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of one or more substances, known as solutes, dissolved i... of one or more solutes in a solventSolvent A solvent is a fluid phase that dissolves a solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution.... . Such a mixtureMixture In chemistry, a mixture is the product of a mechanical blending or mixing of chemical substances like elements and compounds... is considered a solution rather than a compoundChemical compound A chemical compound is a chemical substance consisting of two or more different chemically bonded chemical elements, with a ... when the crystal structureCrystal structure In mineralogy and crystallography, a crystal structure is a unique arrangement of atoms in a crystal.... of the solvent remains unchanged by addition of the solutes, and when the mixture remains in a single phasePhase (matter) In the physical sciences, a phase is a set of states of a macroscopic physical system that have relatively uniform chemical ... . The solute may incorporate into the solvent crystal lattice substitutionSubstitution Substitution is the replacement of one thing with another.... ally, by replacing a solvent particle in the lattice, or interstitialInterstitial Interstitial may refer to:* In crystallography, an empty site in the crystal lattice or an atom in a normally-empty space... ly, by fitting into the space between solvent particles. Both of these types of solid solution affect the properties of the material by distorting the crystal lattice and disrupting the physical and electrical homogeneity of the solvent material. Some mixtures will readily form solid solutions over a range of concentrations, while other mixtures will not form solid solutions at all. The propensity for any two substances to form a solid solution is a complicated matter involving the chemicalChemistry Chemistry is the science of matter at the atomic to molecular scale, dealing primarily with collections of atoms .... , crystallographicCrystallography Crystallography is the experimental science of determining the arrangement of atoms in solids.... , and quantumQuantum mechanics Quantum mechanics is a first quantized quantum theory that supersedes classical mechanics at the atomic and subatomic levels... properties of the substances in question. Solid solutions, in accordance with the Hume-Rothery rulesHume-Rothery rules Overview The Hume-Rothery rules are a set of basic rules describing the conditions under which an element could dissolve in a metal, ... , may form if the solute and solvent have: Similar atomic radiiAtomic radius The atomic radius is the distance from the atomic nucleus to the outmost stable electron orbital in an atom that is at equil... (15% or less difference) Same crystal structureCrystallite A crystallite is a domain of solid-state matter that has the same structure as a single crystal.... Similar electronegativitiesElectronegativity Electronegativity is a measure of the ability of an atom or molecule to attract electrons in the context of a chemical bond.... Similar valencyValence (chemistry) Valence, also known as valency or valency number, is a measure of the number of chemical bonds formed by the ato... The phase diagramPhase diagram In physical chemistry and materials science, a phase diagram is a type of graph used to show the equilibrium conditions betw... in Fig. 1 displays an alloyAlloy An alloy is a combination, either in solution or compound, of two or more elements, at least one of which is a metal, and wh... of two metalMetal In chemistry, a metal is an element that readily forms positive ions and has metallic bonds.... s which forms a solid solution at all relative concentrationConcentration In chemistry, concentration is the measure of how much of a given substance there is mixed with another substance.... s of the two species. In this case, the pure phase of each element is of the same crystal structure, and the similar properties of the two elements allow for unbiased substitution through the full range of relative concentrations. Solid solutions have important commercial and industrial applications, as such mixtures often have superior properties to pure materials. Many metal alloys are solid solutions. Even small amounts of solute can affect the electrical and physical properties of the solvent. The binary phase diagramPhase diagram In physical chemistry and materials science, a phase diagram is a type of graph used to show the equilibrium conditions betw... in Fig. 2 at right shows the phases of a mixture of two substances in varying concentrations, alpha and beta. The region labeled "alpha" is a solid solution, with beta acting as the solute in a matrix of alpha. On the other end of the concentration scale, the region labeled "beta" is also a solid solution, with alpha acting as the solute in a matrix of beta. The large solid region in between the alpha and beta solid solutions, labeled "solid alpha and beta", is not a solid solution. Instead, an examination of the microstructureMicrostructure Overview Microstructure refers of the microscopic description of the individual constituents of a material.... of a mixture in this range would reveal two phases — solid solution alpha-in-beta and solid solution beta-in-alpha would form separate phases, perhaps lamella or grainFacts About Crystallite A crystallite is a domain of solid-state matter that has the same structure as a single crystal.... s. Exsolution When a solid solution becomes unstable — due to a lower temperature, for example — exsolution occurs and the two phases separate into distinct microscopic to megascopic lamellae. An example of this is the alkali feldsparFeldspar Feldspar is the name of an important group of rock-forming minerals which make up perhaps as much as 60% of the Earth's crus... mineral variety perthitePerthite Perthite is used to describe an intergrowth of two feldspars: a host grain of potassium-rich alkali feldspar includes exsolv... in which thin white albiteAlbite Albite is an alkali feldspar mineral.... layers alternate between typically pink microclineMicrocline Microcline is an important igneous rock forming tectosilicate mineral.... . Examples See also Phase diagramPhase diagram In physical chemistry and materials science, a phase diagram is a type of graph used to show the equilibrium conditions betw... Eutectic pointEutectic point A eutectic or eutectic mixture is a mixture of two or more phases at a composition that has the lowest melting point, ...