Question

Some hypothetical alloy is composed of 12.5 wt% of metal A and 87.5 wt% of metal B. If the densities of metals A and B are 4.27 and 6.35 g/cm3, respectively, and their respective atomic weights are 61.4 and 125.7 g/mol, determine whether the crystal structure for this alloy is simple cubic, face-centered cubic, or body-centered cubic. Assume a unit cell edge length of 0.395 nm.

Answer 1

Answer:

The number of atoms in the unit cell is 2, the crystal structure for the alloy is body centered cubic.

Explanation:

Given that,

Weight of metal A = 12.5%

Weight of metal B = 87.5%

Length of unit cell = 0.395 nm

Density of A = 4.27 g/cm³

Density of B= 6.35 g/cm³

Weight of A = 61.4 g/mol

Weight of B = 125.7 g/mol

We need to calculate the density of the alloy

Using formula of density

$\rho=n\times\dfrac{m}{V_{c}\times N_{A}}$

$n=\dfrac{\rho\timesV_{c}\times N}{m}$....(I)

Where, n = number of atoms per unit cells

m = Mass of the alloy

V=Volume of the unit cell

N = Avogadro number

We calculate the density of alloy

$\rho=\dfrac{1}{\dfrac{12.5}{4.27}+\dfrac{87.5}{6.35}}\times100$

$\rho=5.98$

We calculate the mass of the alloy

$m=\dfrac{1}{\dfrac{12.5}{61.4}+\dfrac{87.5}{125.7}}\times100$

$m=111.15$

Put the value into the equation (I)

$n=\dfrac{5.9855\times(0.395\times10^{-9}\times10^{2})^3\times6.023\times10^{23}}{111.15}$

$n=1.99\approx 2\ atoms/cell$

Hence, The number of atoms in the unit cell is 2, the crystal structure for the alloy is body centered cubic.