Bonding classes of solids
Ionic, metallic, molecular and network solids organize common bonding patterns.
Key knowledge
Crystalline solids can be classified by dominant bonding patterns: ionic arrays, metallic bonding, discrete molecular units, or extended covalent networks. Bonding and structure help explain conductivity, mechanical behaviour and phase properties, with important exceptions such as graphite.
Conditions and scope
- These are useful idealized classes; mixed bonding, defects and anisotropy complicate real materials.
- Amorphous solids lack long-range periodic order and are not fully described by a crystal classification.
Sources · 1
References
Sources retain their recorded scope. A source link alone does not establish verification of every statement.
Evidence and review
Source classification table and the graphite exception.
2026-10-10 · Checked classification and qualified structure–property relationships; band theory is handled in physics.
Entry details
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