Which of the following statements about the closest packing of spheres in binary ionic solids is false?
A)The packing is done in a way that minimizes repulsions among ions with like charges.
B)The packing arrangement maximizes electrostatic attractions among oppositely charged ions.
C)For spheres of a given diameter,tetrahedral holes are larger than octahedral holes.
D)Trigonal holes are so small that they are never occupied.
E)None of these.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tetrahedral holes are actually smaller than octahedral holes in the packing of spheres. This is because tetrahedral holes are surrounded by four spheres, while octahedral holes are surrounded by six, allowing for a larger space in the octahedral holes.

Which of the Following Statements About the Closest Packing of Spheres