Science
What is a crystal?
A crystal is a solid whose atoms are arranged in a precise, repeating three-dimensional pattern. This orderly structure gives crystals their flat faces and regular shapes — from salt and diamonds to snowflakes and quartz.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains a crystal.
Key things to understand
- 1Its atoms are arranged in a repeating, orderly lattice.
- 2That internal order produces flat faces and geometric shapes.
- 3Examples include salt, quartz, diamonds, and snowflakes.
- 4The same substance can form different crystal shapes.
- 5Crystals form as a liquid cools or a solution dries.
Frequently asked questions
- What makes something a crystal?
- Its atoms are locked in a regular, repeating 3D pattern (a lattice), which gives the solid its orderly faces and shape.
- How do crystals form?
- As a melted or dissolved substance slowly cools or dries, its atoms settle into an orderly repeating arrangement.
- Why do crystals have flat faces?
- The flat faces reflect the regular internal arrangement of atoms, which builds up along consistent planes.