Crystal Structure Sequence

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The crystal structure of a substance influences many physical properties. Most of the solid metals exist as lattices with closely packed atoms. The three most common forms of packing are:

1) face-centered-cubic (cubic-close-packed) (12 equidistant closest neighbors)

2) hexagonal-close-packed

3) body-centered-cubic (8 nearest equidistant neighbors 6 neighbors 15% further distant)

Many elements change crystal structure as temperature and pressure change.