Of the three cubic unit cells, which lattice packing leaves the least amount of free space in the cell?
A) simple cubic
B) need cell dimensions to determine this
C) body centered cubic
D) face centered cubic

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The face centered cubic lattice has the highest packing efficiency of 74%, which means there is the least amount of free space in the cell. The simple cubic lattice has a packing efficiency of 52%, while the body centered cubic lattice has a packing efficiency of 68%. Therefore, the best choice is D, face centered cubic.

Of the Three Cubic Unit Cells, Which Lattice Packing Leaves