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Question

Chemistry Question on The solid state

In the fluorite structure, the coordination number of Ca2+ Ca^{2+} ion is

A

4

B

6

C

8

D

3

Answer

8

Explanation

Solution

In fluorite structure each Ca2+Ca^{2+} ion is surrounded by eight F" ions. Thus, the coordination number of Ca2+Ca^{2+} is eight. In fluorite structure each F− {F^{-}} ion is surrounded by four Ca++ {Ca^{++}} ions whereas each Ca++ {Ca^{++}} is surrounded by eight F− {F^{-}} ions, giving a body centred cubic arrangement. Thus the coordination number of Ca++=F− {Ca^{++} = F^{-}} are 8 and 4.