Although crystalline solids have short range as well as long range order in the arrangement of their constituent particles, yet crystals are not perfect. Usually a solid consists of an aggregate of large number of small crystals. These small crystals have defects in them. This happens when crystallisation process occurs at fast or moderate rate. Single crystals are formed when the process of crystallisation occurs at extremely slow rate. Even these crystals are not free of defects. The defects are basically irregularities in the arrangement of constituent particles. Broadly speaking, the defects are of two types, namely, point defects and line defects. Point defects can be classified into three types : (i) stoichiometric defects (ii) impurity defects and (iii) non-stoichiometric defects. These are even classified into many such as Frenkel defect, Schottky defect, metal excess defect and so on.

If a fault exists in the arrangement at a point in crystal. What is it called?

Single defect Point defect Primary defect Secondary defect

Point defect

Point defects are the irregularities or deviations from ideal arrangement around a point or an atom in a crystalline substance.