[Q] Cubic ionic lattice confusion

[ahsan8244]

Hello all

I have been studying about lattices recently and have come across the law that each ion is surrounded by 6 oppositely charged ions. However, if we consider the topmost unit cell of a lattice in a solid, how can the top corner ions be surrounded by 6 oppositely charged ions when there would be no unit cell above it?

awaiting answers, thankyou

[studiot]

Lattice basic descriptions always refer to infinite lattices.

 

There are 'end corrections' available at the ouside boundaries as with many different phenoma.

 

The free surface has a surface tension or surface energy that balances the break in the lattice.

 

Do you know how surface tension arises in liquids?

The mechanism is similar in solids and as you describe.