A Frenkel defect is another form of a point defect which is created when an atom or cation leaves its original place in the lattice structure to create a vacancy while occupying another interstitial position within the solid crystal. This defect creates vacancy defect at original site and interstitial defect at new site.
Why do ionic crystals with Frenkel defect remain neutral?
As due to size difference in ions, ion occupies interstitial position in lattice. Ionic crystals having Frenkel defect also remain neutral in nature. As the number of cations and anions remain equal.
When I was writing we ran into the query “What are Frenkel defects?”.
In Frenkel Defect, neither any atom leaves the solid crystal nor do any foreign atoms occupy any interstitial position. So the overall density of the crystal solid remains unchanged. This type of defect is usually observed in ionic crystals, where size of anion is substantially larger than the size of cation.
Schottky defect, a stoichiometric defect, is observed in crystals when equal number of cations and anion are missing from the lattice. Hence, Option “B” is the correct answer. Was this answer helpful?
What happens to the number of atoms in a crystal after Frenkel?
The number of atoms present in the crystal before and after Frenkel defect remains same. However, one Schottky defect leads to the reduction of two atoms from the crystal. Density of the solid crystal before and after Frenkel defect remains same as no atom leaves the solid.
Schottky defect in crystals is observed when?
Schottky defect in crystals is observed when equal numbers of cations and anions are missing from the lattice. It is important that an equal number of cations and anions are missing, otherwise the electrical neutrality of the crystal will get affected.
Moreover, what is the difference between lattice vacancy defect and Schottky defect?
Typically, when the defect is found in non-ionic crystals it is referred to as lattice vacancy defect. Schottky defect is however different from frenkel defect wherein the atoms permanently leave the crystal in terms of schottky defect while atoms usually stay within the solid crystal in frenkel defect.
A common inquiry we ran across in our research was “What is the difference between Schottky defect and electrical neutrality?”.
This is what we ran into. the answer is the option (ii) the equal number of cations and anions are missing from the lattice. Schottky defect is when a crystal has equal number of cations and anions missing from their normal lattice site by creating vacancies or holes. In this case, the electrical neutrality is maintained.