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 crystallization process occurs at fast or moderate rate. Single crystals are formed when the process of crystallization 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 are the irregularities or deviations from ideal arrangement around a point or an atom in a crystalline substance, whereas the line defects are the irregularities or deviations from ideal arrangement in entire rows of lattice points. These irregularities are called crystal defects.

Which of the following defects is/are shown by non-ionic solids?

Both Option 1 and Option 2 are correct

The correct answer is option 4. Both Option 1 and Option 2 are correct.

 Let us delve into each type of defect and how they apply to non-ionic solids:

1. Vacancy defect: In non-ionic solids, such as metals, atoms are arranged in a regular lattice structure. However, due to thermal vibrations or other factors, some atoms may be missing from their regular lattice positions. These vacant lattice sites are referred to as vacancies. Vacancy defects are common in non-ionic solids because atoms can easily migrate within the lattice, leaving behind vacant sites. These vacancies can affect the material properties, such as conductivity and mechanical strength.

2. Interstitial defect: In addition to vacancies, non-ionic solids can also exhibit interstitial defects. In this type of defect, atoms occupy interstitial positions between the regular lattice sites. This can occur when small atoms can fit into the spaces between larger atoms in the lattice. For example, in metallic solids, small atoms like carbon or nitrogen can occupy interstitial positions between the larger metal atoms. Interstitial defects can also influence the material properties, such as hardness and diffusion behavior.

Both vacancy and interstitial defects are important in understanding the behavior of non-ionic solids. They can affect various properties of the material, such as electrical conductivity, mechanical properties, and thermal behavior. Therefore, both Option 1 and Option 2 are correct as non-ionic solids can exhibit both vacancy and interstitial defects.