Crystallography MCQs with Answers
Which of the following is the branch of science that deals with the study of crystals?
a) Crystallography
b) Mineralogy
c) Geology
d) Petrology
Answer: a) Crystallography
The repeating pattern of a crystal is called:
a) Crystal lattice
b) Crystal structure
c) Crystal habit
d) Crystal face
Answer: a) Crystal lattice
The smallest repeating unit in a crystal lattice is called:
a) Unit cell
b) Lattice point
c) Crystal system
d) Space group
Answer: a) Unit cell
How many crystal systems are there?
a) 3
b) 5
c) 7
d) 9
Answer: c) 7
Which crystal system has three axes of equal length that intersect at 90 degrees?
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Hexagonal
Answer: a) Cubic
Which crystal system has three axes of equal length that intersect at angles other than 90 degrees?
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Hexagonal
Answer: d) Hexagonal
Which crystal system has three axes of different lengths that intersect at 90 degrees?
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Hexagonal
Answer: c) Orthorhombic
The crystal system that has a four-fold rotational symmetry is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Hexagonal
Answer: b) Tetragonal
Which crystal system has a six-fold rotational symmetry?
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Hexagonal
Answer: d) Hexagonal
The crystal system that has a two-fold rotational symmetry is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Hexagonal
Answer: c) Orthorhombic
How many Bravais lattices are there?
a) 5
b) 7
c) 9
d) 14
Answer: d) 14
Which of the following is not a Bravais lattice?
a) Simple cubic
b) Body-centered cubic
c) Face-centered cubic
d) Hexagonal close-packed
Answer: d) Hexagonal close-packed
The crystal structure of sodium chloride (NaCl) is an example of:
a) Simple cubic lattice
b) Body-centered cubic lattice
c) Face-centered cubic lattice
d) Hexagonal close-packed lattice
Answer: c) Face-centered cubic lattice
The crystal structure of iron (Fe) is an example of:
a) Simple cubic lattice
b) Body-centered cubic lattice
c) Face-centered cubic lattice
d) Hexagonal close-packed lattice
Answer: b) Body-centered cubic lattice
The crystal structure of graphite is an example of:
a) Simple cubic lattice
b) Body-centered cubic lattice
c) Face-centered cubic lattice
d) Hexagonal close-packed lattice
Answer: d) Hexagonal close-packed lattice
Which of the following is an example of a non-crystalline or amorphous solid?
a) Diamond
b) Quartz
c) Glass
d) Ruby
Answer: c) Glass
The phenomenon of X-ray diffraction is used to study:
a) Crystal structures
b) Mineral compositions
c) Rock formations
d) Gemstone properties
Answer: a) Crystal structures
The Bragg’s Law relates the angles of incidence and diffraction to the:
a) Crystal lattice
b) Crystal structure
c) Crystal habit
d) Crystal face
Answer: a) Crystal lattice
In crystallography, the term “Miller indices” refers to:
a) A method of determining crystal symmetry
b) A system for describing crystal lattice directions and planes
c) A technique for measuring crystal density
d) A classification system for crystal habit
Answer: b) A system for describing crystal lattice directions and planes
The concept of “polymorphism” in crystallography refers to:
a) The ability of a crystal to exhibit different colors
b) The presence of impurities in a crystal lattice
c) The occurrence of multiple crystal structures for a given chemical compound
d) The formation of defects in a crystal structure
Answer: c) The occurrence of multiple crystal structures for a given chemical compound
The crystal system that has the highest symmetry is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Hexagonal
Answer: a) Cubic
The crystal system that has the lowest symmetry is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Triclinic
Answer: d) Triclinic
The crystal system that has a three-fold rotational symmetry is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Trigonal
d) Hexagonal
Answer: c) Trigonal
The crystal system that has a five-fold rotational symmetry is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Trigonal
d) Pentagonal
Answer: d) Pentagonal
The crystal system that has a mirror plane is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Monoclinic
Answer: d) Monoclinic
The crystal system that has a glide plane is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Rhombohedral
Answer: c) Orthorhombic
The crystal system that has a screw axis is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Monoclinic
d) Triclinic
Answer: c) Monoclinic
The crystal system that has a center of symmetry is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Triclinic
Answer: a) Cubic
The crystal system that has a rotoinversion axis is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Rhombohedral
Answer: d) Rhombohedral
The crystal system that has no symmetry elements other than the identity operation is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Triclinic
Answer: d) Triclinic
The crystal system that has both a mirror plane and a glide plane is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Monoclinic
Answer: d) Monoclinic
The crystal system that has both a screw axis and a glide plane is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Monoclinic
d) Triclinic
Answer: c) Monoclinic
The crystal system that has both a screw axis and a mirror plane is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Monoclinic
d) Triclinic
Answer: c) Monoclinic
The crystal system that has both a center of symmetry and a rotoinversion axis is:
a) Cubic
b) Tetragonal
c) Orthorhombic
d) Rhombohedral
Answer: d) Rhombohedral
The concept of “stereographic projection” in crystallography is used to:
a) Represent crystal structures in two dimensions
b) Determine crystal density
c) Analyze crystal defects
d) Describe crystal growth patterns
Answer: a) Represent crystal structures in two dimensions
The concept of “twinning” in crystallography refers to:
a) The presence of impurities in a crystal lattice
b) The simultaneous occurrence of multiple crystal structures
c) The formation of defects in a crystal structure
d) The intergrowth of two or more crystal domains
Answer: d) The intergrowth of two or more crystal domains
The process of “reciprocal lattice” in crystallography is used to:
a) Analyze crystal defects
b) Calculate the diffraction pattern of a crystal
c) Determine crystal symmetry
d) Describe crystal habit
Answer: b) Calculate the diffraction pattern of a crystal
The term “zone axis” in crystallography refers to:
a) A line connecting two lattice points
b) A line connecting two atoms within a crystal
c) A direction within the crystal lattice
d) A plane within the crystal lattice
Answer: c) A direction within the crystal lattice
The concept of “packing fraction” in crystallography refers to:
a) The arrangement of atoms within a crystal lattice
b) The density of a crystal structure
c) The presence of impurities in a crystal lattice
d) The formation of crystal defects
Answer: b) The density of a crystal structure
The concept of “interplanar spacing” in crystallography refers to:
a) The distance between two crystal planes
b) The distance between two atoms within a crystal
c) The arrangement of atoms within a crystal lattice
d) The presence of impurities in a crystal lattice
Answer: a) The distance between two crystal planes
The concept of “reciprocal space” in crystallography is used to:
a) Describe crystal growth patterns
b) Analyze crystal defects
c) Calculate the diffraction pattern of a crystal
d) Determine crystal habit
Answer: c) Calculate the diffraction pattern of a crystal
The crystallographic technique used to determine the atomic arrangement in a crystal is called:
a) X-ray diffraction
b) Scanning electron microscopy
c) Transmission electron microscopy
d) Atomic force microscopy
Answer: a) X-ray diffraction
The crystallographic technique used to study the surface of a crystal is called:
a) X-ray diffraction
b) Scanning electron microscopy
c) Transmission electron microscopy
d) Atomic force microscopy
Answer: b) Scanning electron microscopy
The crystallographic technique used to study the internal structure of a crystal is called:
a) X-ray diffraction
b) Scanning electron microscopy
c) Transmission electron microscopy
d) Atomic force microscopy
Answer: c) Transmission electron microscopy
The crystallographic technique used to study the topography and properties of a crystal surface is called:
a) X-ray diffraction
b) Scanning electron microscopy
c) Transmission electron microscopy
d) Atomic force microscopy
Answer: d) Atomic force microscopy
The term “Burgers vector” in crystallography refers to:
a) The magnitude and direction of a crystal lattice vector
b) The density of a crystal structure
c) The presence of impurities in a crystal lattice
d) The formation of crystal defects
Answer: a) The magnitude and direction of a crystal lattice vector
The term “dislocation” in crystallography refers to:
a) The arrangement of atoms within a crystal lattice
b) The density of a crystal structure
c) The presence of impurities in a crystal lattice
d) The formation of crystal defects
Answer: d) The formation of crystal defects
The term “twin boundary” in crystallography refers to:
a) A line connecting two lattice points
b) A line connecting two atoms within a crystal
c) A boundary between two crystal domains
d) A plane within the crystal lattice
Answer: c) A boundary between two crystal domains
The term “morphology” in crystallography refers to:
a) The arrangement of atoms within a crystal lattice
b) The external shape and form of a crystal
c) The presence of impurities in a crystal lattice
d) The formation of crystal defects
Answer: b) The external shape and form of a crystal
The term “growth habit” in crystallography refers to:
a) The arrangement of atoms within a crystal lattice
b) The density of a crystal structure
c) The external shape and form of a crystal
d) The formation of crystal defects
Answer: c) The external shape and form of a crystal