SOLID STATE

1. 'C' represent the height of the HCP unit cell and 'a'
represent edge length of the hexagonal surface of the HCP
unit cell. What is the value of C/a?
2 8 32 3
(A) 3
(B) 3
(C) 3
(D) 2

Answer: [B]
In HCP unit cell
2
C = 4r
3

a = 2r
c 2 8
∴ = 2 =
a 3 3

2. Antifluorite structure is derived from fluorite structure by

(A) Heating fluorite crystal lattice
(B) Subjecting fluorite structure to high pressure
(C) Interchanging the positions of positive and negative
ions in the lattice
(D) Introducing the impurities to the lattice
Answer: [C]

1
 Since the CN of fluorite and antifluorite structure are same,
hence by interchanging the positions of cation and anions
lattice can be interchanged.

3. Which one of the following schemes of ordering closed

packed sheets of equal sized spheres does not generate
close packed lattice.
(A) ABCBCA (B) ABAABABA
(C) ABAABBA (D) ABCABCABC
Answer: [C]
ABAABBA schemes of ordering closed packed sheets of
equal sized spheres does not generate close packed lattice.

4. What is the Miller indices of a plane that makes an

intercept of 2Å, 3Å and 4Å respectively with X, Y and Z axes
of an orthorhombic crystal with a: b: c = 4: 3: 2
(A) (1 2 4) (B) (4 2 1)
(C) (2 1 1) (D) (4 1 2)
Answer: [B]
Let the unit distance with X axis  4Å

 the unit distance with Y axis 3Å

2
  the unit distance with Z axis  2Å

4 3 2  1
 Miller indices is  2 3 4  ≡  2 1 2  ≡ ( 4 2 1)
   

5. In a normal spinel types structure, the oxide ions are

arranged in ccp whereas 1/8 tetrahedral holes are occupied
by Zn2 ions and 50% of octahedral holes are occupied by
Fe3 ions. The formula of the compound is

(A) Zn2Fe2O4 (B) ZnFe2O3 (C) ZnFe2O4 (D) ZnFe2O2

Answer: [C]
In one unit cell no. of O2–  4

1
The no. of Zn2+ =
8
×8 =1

1
The no. of Fe3 + =
2
×4 =2

 molecular formula of given spinel structure is ZnFe2O4

6. The anions (A) form hexagonal closest packing and the

cations (C) occupy only 2/3 of octahedral holes. The
simplest formula of the ionic compound is
(A) CA (B) C3 A 2 (C) C4 A 3 (D) C2 A 3

Answer: [D]

3
 The no. of A in one unit cell = 6
2
The no. of C in one unit cell =
3
×6 = 4

 m.f is C 4 A 6  C2 A 3

7. An elemental crystal has a density of 8570 kg / m3 . The

packing efficiency is 0.68. The closest distance of approach
between neighbouring atom is 2.86 Å. What is the mass of
one atom approximately?
(A) 29 amu (B) 39 amu (C) 63 amu (D) 93 amu
Answer: [D]
The packing efficiency = 0.68, means the given lattice is
BCC.
The closest distance of approach = 2r

=2r 2.86
= Å
3a
2
or a=
2 × 2.86
= 3.30 Å.
3

Let at. wt. of the element = a

2×a
∴ = 8.57
36 × 10 × (3.3)3 × 10 –24
23

3
a  8.57  3 3.3  0.1  92.39  93

4
 8. Regarding graphite the following information are available:

The density of graphite  2.25 gm / cm3 . What is C—C bond

distance in graphite?
(A) 1.68 Å (B) 1.545 Å (C) 2.852 Å (D) 1.426 Å
Answer: [D]
Let C—C bond distance in graphite is dÅ

 Surface area 6×
=
4
3
× d2 =
6×
4
3
× d2 × 10 –16 cm2


vol. of the unit cell = 6×
4
3
× d2 × 10 –16 × 3.35 × 10 –8 cm3

 mass of the unit cell = 6×

4
3
× 3.35 × d2 × 2.25 × 10 –24 gm

3 10
∴ 6× × 3.35 × 2.25 × 10 –24 × d2 =
12 × × 10 –24 × 2
4 6

10 1× 2
=∴ d2 × 4= 2.04265
3 3 × 3.35 × 2.25

or d  1.429 Å

5
9. At what angles for the first order diffraction, spacing
between two planes respectively are λ and λ2 ?

(A) 0º, 90º (B) 90º, 0º (C) 30º, 90º (D) 90º, 30º

Answer: [C]
n=
× λ 2d sinθ

In first case, 1× λ = 2λ sinθ

or sin θ = 21 = sin 30º

or θ =30º

In second case, 1× λ = 2×
λ
2
× sin θ

or sinθ = 1 = sin 90º

or θ =90º

10. The structure of a crystalline lattice AB is rock salt type

where B atoms are occupying all the CCP positions but A
atoms are occupying all the octahedral voids
(A) If atoms lying on one tetrad axis of symmetry are
removed then molecular formula of the compound
become AB.

6
 (B) If atoms lying on one triad axis of symmetry are
removed then molecular formula of the compound
become A 4B5 .
(C) If atoms lying on one diad axis of symmetry are
removed then molecular formula of the compound
become A 5B8 .
(D) All of the above molecular formula are correct
corresponding to the defects mentioned.
Answer: [D]

The no. of A atoms remaining

= 4=
–1 3

1 1 15
The no. of B atoms remaining
= 4–2 ×
8
=4 − =
4 4

Molecular formula is A 3B15/4 ≡ A12B15 ≡ A 4B5

1 3 5
The no. of A atoms
= 4 – 1– 2 ×
4
=4 − =
2 2

The no. of B atoms = 4

Molecular formula A 5/2B4 or A 5B8

7
 11. Ice crystallises in a hexagonal lattice having volume of the
unit cell as 132 × 10–24 cm3 . If density is 0.92 g cm–3 at a given
temperature, then number of H2O molecules per unit cell is
(A) 1 (B) 2 (C) 3 (D) 4
Answer: [D]
mass
=d
volume

Mass of n molecules of H2O in hexagonal packing =

18n 18n
=
N0 6.02 × 1023

18n
= = 0.92
6.02 × 10 × 132 × 10 −24
23

0.92 × 6.02 × 10 −1 × 132

=∴ n = 4
18

12. As solid AB2 has fluorite type structure (CaF2). If all the
atoms along one of the tetrad axes is removed, the formula
of the solid will be
a) A2B5
b) A3B8
c) A3B5
d) A5B8
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Before removal of atoms the solid is AB2

8
 1 1
A = 6× +8× = 4
2 8


A : B
4:8
AB2
After removal of atoms along tetrad axis :
Two face-centred atoms will be removed
Therefore,
1 1
A = 4× +8× = 3
2 8

B=8
Formula is A3B8

13. If the distance between Na+ and Cl–1 ions in NaCl crystal is
265 pm, then edge length of the unit cell will be?
(A) 265 pm (B) 530 pm (C) 795 pm (D) 132.5 pm
Answer: [B]
Edge length
= 2× distance between Na+ & Cl–

2 × 265 =
= 530 pm

9
14. The number of atoms per unit cell in a simple cubic, face-
centered cubic and body-centered cubic are ……….
respectively
(A) 1 , 4, 2 (B) 4, 1, 2 (C) 2, 4, 1 (D) 4, 8, 2
Answer: [A]
8
sc = =1
8

8 6
fcc = + =4
8 2

8 1
bcc = + =2
8 1

15. If Z is the number of atoms in the unit cell that represents

the closest packing sequence ABC ABC … , the number of
tetrahedral voids in the unit cell is equal to
Z Z
(A) Z (B) 2Z (C) 2
(D) 4

Answer: [B]
No. of Tetrahedral Void= 2 × No. of atom Tetrahedral
Void = 2Z

16. Na and Mg crystallise in bcc and fcc type crystals

respectively, then the number of atoms of Na and Mg
present in the unit cell of their respectively crystal is

10
 (A) 4 and 2 (B) 9 and 14
(C) 14 and 9 (D) 2 and 4
Answer: [D]
Na and Mg crystallise in bcc and fcc type crystals
respectively, then the number of atoms of Na and Mg
present in the unit cell of their respectively crystal is 2 and
4.

17. A solid compound contains X, Y and Z atoms in a cubic

lattice with X atoms occupying the corners, Y atoms in the
body centred positions and Z atoms at the centre of the
faces of the unit cell. What is the empirical formula of the
compound?
(A) XY2 Z3 (B) XYZ3 (C) X2 Y2 Z3 (D) X8 YZ6

Answer: [B]
8
X= = 1
8

Y=1
6
Z= = 3
2

XYZ3

11
18. An element 'A' has face-centred cubic structure with edge
length equal to 361 pm. The apparent radius of atom 'A' is
(A) 127.6 pm (B) 180.5 pm
(C) 160.5 pm (D) 64 pm
Answer: [A]
a 2 = 4r

2a 1.414 × 361
=r = = 127.6 pm
4 4

19. ABC ABC types of arrangement of different layers, in a

closest packed structure is called
(A) hcp (B) bcc
(C) sc (D) cubic closest packed (ccp)
Answer: [D]
ABC ABC types of arrangement of different layers, in a
closest packed structure is called cubic closest packed
(ccp).

20.Which type of magnetic behaviour is shown by ‘magnetite’

(Fe3O4)?
a) Ferromagnetism
b) Ferrimagnetism
12
 c) Antiferromagnetism
d) Diamagnetism
Answer: [b]
Explanation:
In Fe3O4, iron and oxygen items present in +5 and -2 ionic
state respectively with oppositely aligned magnetic
moments. Irrespective of the oppositely aligned magnetic
moments, at room temperature Fe3O4 shows
ferrimagnetism due to different values of magnetic
moments of both atoms.

21.The crystal system having a = β ≠ c and α = β = γ = 90° is

present in
a) Hexagonal
b) Tetragonal
c) Monoclinic
d) Triclinic
Answer: [b]
Explanation:
The Bravais lattices are divided into 7 crystal systems.
Among the 7 crystal systems tetragonal crystal systems is
with edges a = b ≠ c and angles α = β = γ = 90°. Tetragonal
crystal system is further divided into primitive and body
centered system.

13
22. Total number of voids in 0.45 moles of a compound
forming a hexagonal close-packed structure is
a) 6.45 × 1023

b) 3.92 × 1023

c) 8.13 × 1023

d) 5.59 × 1022

Answer: [c]
Explanation:
In HCP number of atoms per unit cell is 6
Number of octahedral voids = 6
and tetrahedral voids = 2 × 6 = 12
Total number of voids = 6 + 12 = 18
Total number of voids per atom = 18 = 3
6
in 0.45 mole compound, total number of voids
= 3 × 0.45 × 6.023 × 1023
= 8.13 × 1023 voids
23. An element X (At. wt. = 80 g/mol) having fcc structure,
calculate no. of unit cells in 8 gm of X:
(A) 0.4 × NA (B) 0.1 × NA (C) 4 × NA (D) NA / 40

Answer: [D]
Effective no. of atom in a unit cell = 4
8
No. of atom= 80
× NA

NA 1 NA
∴ No of unit cell = × =
10 4 40

14
24. When heated above 916º C, iron changes its bcc crystalline
form to fcc without the change in the radius of atom. The
ratio of density of the crystal before heating and after
heating is [At . wt. Fe = 56]
(A) 1.069 (B) 0.918 (C) 0.725 (D) 1.231
Answer: [B]
2 × 56
ρ1 = 3
 4r 
 
 3

4 × 56
ρ2 =
( 2 2r )
3

ρ1
∴ = 0.918
ρ2

25. In a solid lattice the cation has left a lattice site and is
located at an interstitial position, the lattice defect is
(A) Interstitial defect
(B) Vacancy defect
(C) Frenkel defect
(D) Schottky defect
Answer: [C]

15
 In a solid lattice the cation has left a lattice site and is
located at an interstitial position, the lattice defect is
Frenkel defect.

26.Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?

A.Ferromagnetic substances are permanently magnetised.
B. AgBr shows both Schottky and Frenkel defects.
C. One tetrahedral voids per atom is present in HCP structure.
a) A & C
b) A, B & C
c) B only
d) A & B
Answer: (d)
Explanation:
In presence of an external magnetic field ferromagnetic
substances are strongly magnetized and even after the
removal of magnetic field, they remains magnetized.
Because of precipitation of both silver and bromide ion,
AgBr shows Schottky defect and due to small size of silver
ion it occupy interstitial site hence it also shows frenkel
defect.
Thus, both (A) & (B) statements are correct.

16
27. A body centered cubic lattice is made up of hollow spheres
of B. Spheres of solid A are present in hollow spheres of B.
Radius A is half of radius of B. What is the ratio of total
volume of spheres of B unoccupied by A in a unit cell and
volume of unit cell?
7.π
(A) 7 3π
64
(B) 7 3
128
(C) 24
(D) 7π
64 3

Answer: [D]
No. of atoms of B in unit cell = 2
Total volume of B unoccupied by A

In a unit cell = 2×
4 3
3
( )
R – r3 × π =
7πR3
3

Vol. of unit cell= 3

a=
64
R3
3 3

For BCC 3a = 4R

7πR3 / 3 7π
∴=
ρratio =
64 3 64 3
R
3 3

28. Sodium (Na = 23) crystallizes in bcc arrangement with the

interfacial separation between the atoms at the edge
53.6pm. The density of sodium crystal is:
(A) 2.07 g/cc (B) 2.46 g/cc

17
 (C) 1.19 g/cc (D) none of these
Answer: [C]
Atoms at the edge = 53.6 pm
Atomic no. = 23
Density sodium crystal = 1.19g/cc

29. The figure below shows a unit cell of the mineral

Perovskite (the titanium atom is at the centre of the cube).
Which of the following is a correct chemical formula for
this mineral?

Calcium
Oxygen
Titanium

(A) Ca8 TiO6 (B) CaTiO

(C) Ca2 TiO3 (D) CaTiO3

Answer: [D]
1
Effective number of Ca= 8 ×
8
=1

Effective number of Ti = 1 × 1 = 1

1
Effective number of O= 6 ×
2
=3

18
 ∴ Formula = CaTiO3

30. An atomic solid has hexagonal arrangement of unit cell

with height of hexagonal (in close packed arrangement) as
"h". The radius of atom in terms of height is:
2 h 2 h 3 h 3
(A) 4
3
h (B) 4 3
(C) 2 2
(D) 4 2

Answer: [D]
Volume of Hexagonal = 24 2 R3

cross section area of hexagonal 6×

=
4
3
× 4R2 =
6 3 R2

Volume = height × Area

h 3
24 2 R3= h × 6 3 R2 ⇒ R =
4 2

31. Cubic void is present in

a) FCC unit cell
b) Simple cubic unit cell
c) BCC unit cell
d) All of these
Answer: [b]
Explanation:
A void whose structure is cubical is known as cubic void. It
is present in simple cubic unit cell.

19
32. A compound formed by elements A and B crystallizes in
the cubic structure where A atoms are at the corners of a cube
and B atoms are at the face centres. The formula of the
compound is
(A) AB 3 (B) AB (C) A B (D) A B 3 2 2

Answer: (A)
1
In a unit cell, A atoms at the corners =
8
×8 = 1

1
B atoms at the face centres =
2
×6 = 3

Ratio of A: B = 1: 3. The formula of the compound is AB3 .

Hence, (A) is the correct answer.

33. A compound formed by elements A and B has a cubic

structure in which A atoms are at the corners of the cube
and B atoms are at the face centres. The formula of the
compound will be
(A) A B
8 6 = A 4B 3 (B) A 8B4 = A 2B (C) AB 3 (D) A 2B3

20
Answer: (C)
1
Atoms A per unit cell =8 ×
8
=1 and

Atoms B per unit cell = 6 × 21 = 3. Hence, the formula of the

compound is AB3 .

Hence, (C) is the correct answer.

34. The edge of face centred unit cubic cell is 508 pm. If the
radius of the cation is 110 pm, the radius of the anion is
(A) 144 pm (B) 288 pm (C) 618 pm (D) 398 pm
Answer: (A)
For fcc structure,
a 508
(r +
)
+ r− = =
2 2
=254pm

r – 254 –=
r + = 110 ⇒= 110 144 pm

Hence, (A) is the correct answer.

35. The unit cell of aluminium is a cube with an edge length of

405 pm. The density of aluminium is 2.7 g/cc. The type of
lattice Al has is
(A) bcc (B) fcc (C) sc (D) end centred

21
Answer: (B)
nM
ρ=
No a3

n × 27
2.7 = ⇒ n=
4
6.023 × 10 × (405 × 10 −10 )3
23

Since n = 4, the lattice is fcc

Hence, (B) is the correct answer.

36. If N2 gas is bubbled through water at 20°C, how many ml (at

STP) of N2 gas would dissolve in a litre of water? Partial
pressure of N2 equal to 742.5 torr and hennery's law
constant for it is 5.75 × 107 torr at 20°C.
(A) 10 ml (B) 14 ml
(C) 16 ml (D) 22.4 ml
Answer: (C)
742.5
Mole fraction of N2 (X=
N2 ) =
5.75 × 10 7
1.29 × 10 −5

Since molarity of H2O is 55.5

n n
∴ XN= ≅
2
n + 55.5 55.5

or=n 7.16 × 10 –4 mol.

so, Volume at S.T.P. 7.16 × 10 –4 × 224000 =

= 16 ml.

22
37. crystallizes in a bcc lattice in which the radius of
X+ Y −

X = 0.4 A. If all the X ions are removed and another cation

+ +

Z is inserted, what should be the maximum radius of the

+

cation Z to crystallize in a fcc lattice with Y ?

+ −

(A) 0.548 Å (B) 0.010 Å

(C) 0.400 Å (D) 0.226 Å
Answer: (D)

For a fcc lattice x+

y
=−
0.732
= y=
− 0.4
= 0.5460 A
0.732

Now for fcc lattice z+

y
=−
0.414 ⇒ z=
+
= 0.2260 A
0.544 × 0.414

38. The height of a HCP unit cell is 5.715 0A. What is the
volume of the unit cell in A ? 0
3

(A) 91 (B) 182

(C) 273 (D) 82.5
Answer: (B)
The height of the HCP unit cell = 4
2
3
.r = 5.715

5.715 × 3
∴ r= = 1.75 0 A
2×4

The base area of the unit cell = 6 3 r2

The volume of the unit cell = base area x height =

24 2 r 3 = 181.8 0 A 3

23
 39. A crystal is made of particles X, Y and Z. X forms FCC
packing, Y occupies all octahedral voids of X and Z occupies
all tetrahedral voids of X. If all the particles along one body
diagonal are removed, then the formula of crystal would be
(A) XYZ2 (B) X2 YZ2

(C) X8 Y4 Z5 (D) X5 Y4 Z8

Answer: (D)
When all particles along body diagonal are removed, 2X
atoms from corner are removed one Y particle removed and
2Z particle removed
1 1 15
X particle = ×6+ ×6 = ( Y particle = 3,Z particle = 6 )
8 2 4

∴ X15 Y3 Z6 =
X5 Y4 Z8
4

40. crystallizes in a body-centred cubic lattice with edge

NH4Cl

length of unit cell equal to 387 pm. If the radius of the Cl−
ion is 181 pm, radius for NH+4 ion is
(A) 154.1 pm (B) 92.6 pm
(C) 366.3 pm (D) none of these
Answer: (A)
In body centred cubic lattice, oppositely charged ions touch
each other along the cube

24
 2rc + 2ra =3a

3 3 3
rc + r=
a a
= a
= × 387
= 335.15pm
2 2 2

givenra = 181pm

rc = 335.15 − 181.0 = 154.15pm

41. If the unit cell length of sodium chloride crystal is 600 pm,
then its density will be
(A) 2.165 g / cm3 (B) 3.247 g / cm3
(C) 1.79 g / cm3 (D) 1.082 g / cm3
Answer: (C)
Z×M 4 × 58.5
=ρ = = 1.79 g / cc
( )
3 3
NAV × a 6.023 × 1023 × 6 × 10−8

42. A substance has density of 2 kg dm−3 & it crystallizes in fcc

lattice with edge length equal to 700 pm, then the molar
mass of the substance is
(A) 74.50 g mol−1 (B) 103.30 g mol−1
(C) 56.02 g mol−1 (D) 65.36 g mol−1
Answer: (B)
Z×M
ρ=
NAV × a3

2=
4×M
6.023 × 1023 × (7 × 10 −8 )3
(since, effective number of atoms in
unit cell = 4 )
103.30 g mol−1
∴ M=

25
43. For a solid with the following structure, the coordination
number of the point B is

(A) (B)

(A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6

Answer: (D)
It is evident from figure that B occupies octahedral voids
and thus coordination number is six.

44. Edge length M+ X− (fcc structure) is 7.2 Å. Assuming M+ and X−

contact along the cell edge, radius of X− ion is (r = 1.6 Å)

M+

(A) 2.0 Å (B) 5.6 Å

(C) 2.8 Å (D) 3.8 Å
Answer: (A)
2(rM+ + rX− ) = 7.2 ; rX− = 2.0 Å

45. A substance A XBY crystallizes in a face centered cubic

(FCC) lattice in which atoms ‘A’ occupy each corner of the
cube and atoms ‘B’ occupy the centers of each face of the
cube. Identify the correct composition of the substance A XBY .
(A) AB3

(B) A 4B3

26
 (C) A 3B

(D) Composition cannot be specified

Answer: (A)
Number of effective atoms of A present in a unit cell
1
= ×8 =1
8

And number of effective atoms of B present in a unit cell

1
×6 =3
2

Therefore composition of the substance is AB3 .

27