Question:medium

In a BCC (Body-Centered Cubic) unit cell, what is the coordination number?

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Common coordination numbers: SC (Simple Cubic) = 6, BCC (Body-Centered Cubic) = 8, FCC (Face-Centered Cubic) = 12.
Updated On: Apr 22, 2026
  • \(4\)
  • \(6\)
  • \(8\)
  • \(12\)
Show Solution

The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The coordination number refers to the number of nearest neighbors an atom has in a crystal lattice. We need to find this for the BCC structure.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
In a Body-Centered Cubic (BCC) unit cell:
1. Atoms are located at each of the \(8\) corners of the cube.
2. One single atom is located exactly at the center of the cube's body.
If we look at the body-centered atom, it is in direct contact with all \(8\) corner atoms.
Similarly, every corner atom is shared by \(8\) adjacent cubes and is in contact with the body-center atom of each.
Step 3: Final Answer:
Since each atom is surrounded by \(8\) nearest neighbors, the coordination number is \(8\).
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