An isodesmic crystal is a crystal in which all the bonds have the same electrostatic valency. This means that all the bonds are of the same strength. Diamonds and halite have isodesmic crystals. The opposite of an isodesmic crystal is an anisodesmic crystal, in which anions more strongly bonded to central coordinating cation. Graphite is an example of an isodesmic crystal.
Famous quotes containing the word crystal:
“The Thirties dreamed white marble and slipstream chrome, immortal crystal and burnished bronze, but the rockets on the Gernsback pulps had fallen on London in the dead of night, screaming. After the war, everyone had a car—no wings for it—and the promised superhighway to drive it down, so that the sky itself darkened, and the fumes ate the marble and pitted the miracle crystal.”
—William Gibson (b. 1948)