Crystal Shapes

Crystal shapes have fascinated people for centuries. From the perfectly symmetrical shapes of snowflakes to the more random shapes of minerals, crystals come in an endless variety of forms. But what determines the shape of a crystal?

The answer lies in the way that atoms are arranged in the crystal structure. The atoms in a crystal are arranged in a repeating pattern, and the overall shape of the crystal is determined by the geometry of this pattern. The type of crystal structure also plays a role in determining the shape of the crystal. For example, some crystals have a cubic structure, which results in a cube-shaped crystal.

Crystal shapes can be quite complex, and there is still much we don't understand about how they are formed. But by studying the shapes of crystals, we can learn more about the underlying structure of matter and the Universe itself.