The number of atoms in a body-centered cubic unit cell is
A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4
E) 8

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a body-centered cubic (BCC) unit cell, there is one atom at each of the eight corners and one atom in the center. Each corner atom is shared among eight unit cells, contributing 1/8 of an atom per cell, totaling 1 atom from the corners. The atom in the center is not shared and contributes fully, adding 1 more atom. Therefore, the total number of atoms in a BCC unit cell is 2.

The Number of Atoms in a Body-Centered Cubic Unit Cell