Solid StateeasyCOMPREHENSIVE

Account for the fact that hydrogen occupies tetrahedral holes while carbon occupies octahedral holesSolid State Chemistry Question

Question

Account for the fact that hydrogen occupies tetrahedral holes while carbon occupies octahedral holes.

Answer: B

💡 Solution & Explanation

Tetrahedral voids are smaller than octahedral voids. Since hydrogen atoms are smaller than carbon atoms ($r_H < r_C$), hydrogen can fit into the smaller tetrahedral holes while carbon requires the larger octahedral holes. Therefore, correct answer is B.

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