- published: 25 Apr 2013
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In crystallography, the hexagonal crystal system is one of the 7 crystal systems, the hexagonal lattice system is one of the 7 lattice systems, and the hexagonal crystal family is one of the 6 crystal families. They are closely related and often confused with each other, but they are not the same. The hexagonal lattice system consists of just one Bravais lattice type: the hexagonal one. The hexagonal crystal system consists of the 7 point groups such that all their space groups have the hexagonal lattice as underlying lattice. The hexagonal crystal family consists of the 12 point groups such that at least one of their space groups has the hexagonal lattice as underlying lattice, and is the union of the hexagonal crystal system and the trigonal crystal system.
In some cases, it is useful or instructive to redraw a hexagonal structure with orthohexagonal axes, wherein the b axis is redrawn at 90° to the a and c axes.
Graphite is an example of a crystal that crystallizes in the hexagonal crystal system.
In crystallography, the terms crystal system, crystal family, and lattice system each refer to one of several classes of space groups, lattices, point groups, or crystals. Informally, two crystals tend to be in the same crystal system if they have similar symmetries, though there are many exceptions to this.
Crystal systems, crystal families, and lattice systems are similar but slightly different, and there is widespread confusion between them: in particular the trigonal crystal system is often confused with the rhombohedral lattice system, and the term "crystal system" is sometimes used to mean "lattice system" or "crystal family".
Space groups and crystals are divided into 7 crystal systems according to their point groups, and into 7 lattice systems according to their Bravais lattices. Five of the crystal systems are essentially the same as five of the lattice systems, but the hexagonal and trigonal crystal systems differ from the hexagonal and rhombohedral lattice systems. The six crystal families are formed by combining the hexagonal and trigonal crystal systems into one hexagonal family, in order to eliminate this confusion.
Explanation of 7 Types of crystal structure (cubic srystal system, orthorhombic crystal system, monoclinic crystal system, hexagonal crystal system, rhombohedral crystal system, triclinic crystal system, tetralgonal crystal system) , 14 types of bravias lattices. DISCUSSION ON CUBICAL CRYSTAL STRUCTURE, simple primitive, bcc and fcc. Number of atom per unit cell in primitibe, bcc and fcc structure
Unit 2.8 of the course The Fascination of Crystals and Symmetry Additonal resources at: https://crystalsymmetry.wordpress.com/chapter-2/ The hexagonal crystal system is a bit challenging to manage, a little less clear than the others. In this unit we want to answer three questions: (1) In which way are hexagonal unit cells assembled correctly? (2) To how many unit cells does an atom on the corner of a hexagonal primitive cell belong? (3) And where is the 6-fold axis of rotation located? At the center of the cell or at the corners?