HOLOHEDRISM Meaning and
Definition
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Holohedrism refers to a fundamental principle in crystallography, which describes the characteristic of a crystal to have faces on all sides of its structure. This term is derived from the Greek words "holos" meaning whole or complete, and "hedra" meaning face. The concept of holohedrism primarily pertains to regular crystals, where the faces are parallel to each other and symmetrically distributed around the crystal lattice.
A holohedral crystal is one that exhibits well-developed faces, forming a complete polyhedral shape. The faces are related to each other by rotational symmetry, resulting in a balanced and uniform appearance. This symmetry can be described using crystallographic systems, such as the cubic, tetragonal, or hexagonal systems, among others. Each system has its own characteristic pattern of symmetrically arranged faces.
Holohedrism is crucial in crystallography as the presence of well-defined faces aids in identifying and classifying crystals. By analyzing and characterizing the crystal faces, scientists can determine the mineral species, crystal structure, and various physical properties of a crystal. This information is essential in fields like material science, geology, and chemistry.
In summary, holohedrism is a fundamental concept in crystallography that describes the property of a crystal to have faces on all sides, forming a complete and symmetrical polyhedral shape. It enables the classification and identification of crystals, providing valuable insights into their structure and properties.
Common Misspellings for HOLOHEDRISM
- golohedrism
- bolohedrism
- nolohedrism
- jolohedrism
- uolohedrism
- yolohedrism
- hilohedrism
- hklohedrism
- hllohedrism
- hplohedrism
- h0lohedrism
- h9lohedrism
- hokohedrism
- hopohedrism
- hooohedrism
- holihedrism
- holkhedrism
- hollhedrism
- holphedrism
- hol0hedrism
Etymology of HOLOHEDRISM
The term "holohedrism" is derived from two Greek roots: "holos" meaning "complete" or "whole", and "hedra" meaning "face" or "side". In mineralogy, holohedrism refers to the property of a crystal where all of its faces or sides are symmetrical and complete, forming a geometrically perfect shape.
