Question:medium

The packing factor for the FCC unit cell is

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The FCC structure has a packing factor of 0.74 (or 74%), the highest among common cubic structures. This makes FCC ideal for dense materials. The close-packed arrangement minimizes empty space, enhancing material strength and stability.
Updated On: Jan 17, 2026
  • 0.52
  • 0.68
  • 0.74
  • 0.99
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

The packing factor is defined as the ratio of the volume of atoms in a unit cell to the volume of the unit cell, calculated as:
\[\text{Packing Factor} = \frac{\text{Volume of atoms in a unit cell}}{\text{Volume of the unit cell}}\]
For Face-Centered Cubic (FCC) structures, the packing factor is determined to be:
\[\text{Packing Factor} = \frac{4 \times \frac{4}{3} \pi r^3}{a^3} = 0.74\]
where \(a = \frac{4r}{\sqrt{2}}\). This demonstrates that \(74\%\) of the unit cell's total volume is occupied by atoms.

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