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From Ice to Metal: How Do Solids Impact Our Daily Life?
Solid is one of the four basic states of matter, along with liquid, gas and plasma. In solids, molecules are packed tightly together and have minimal energy for motion. A solid has a structure that is rigid and resistant to external forces applied to its surface. Unlike liquids, solid objects do not flow to fit the shape of their container, nor do they expand to fill all available space like gases do. Atoms in solids combine with each other and can appear in regular geometric lattices (such as metals and ice) or irregular arrangements (such as amorphous solids such as glass). This area of physics is called solid state physics, while materials science is concerned with the physical and chemical properties of solids.
Solids have a profound impact on daily life, from our living environment to clothing, food packaging, etc., they are all closely related to solid materials.
Microscopic description of solids
The atoms, molecules, or ions of a solid may be arranged in an orderly repeating pattern or in an irregular manner. Materials with regular arrangements are called crystals. A solid is considered a single crystal if it maintains a regular arrangement over a large area, such as diamond. However, most visible solid objects are not composed of a single crystal, but of many small crystals called grains, which can range in size from a few nanometers to several meters. Almost all common metals and many ceramics are polycrystalline. Furthermore, unlike crystals, amorphous solids do not have long-range order in the arrangement of their atoms. Examples include polystyrene and glass.
Types of solids
The forces between atoms in solids can take different forms. For example, sodium chloride crystals are made of charged sodium and chloride ions held together by ionic bonds. In metals, electrons are generally shared to form metallic bonds. These different bonding methods give different types of solids different properties.
Metal
Metals are typically strong, dense, and conduct electricity and heat well. Most elements can be classified as metals, and alloys of metals are mixtures of two or more elements in which the metal is the main component. Iron and aluminum are the two most commonly used structural metals. In many fields such as construction, transportation, household appliances, and pipelines, the widespread use of metal shows its indispensable role in daily life.
Metals have been used for a variety of purposes since ancient times, and their reliability and strength make them an important material in a variety of industries.
Minerals
Minerals are natural solids formed under high pressure through various geological processes and must have a uniform crystal structure to be classified as a true mineral. Most of the earth's rocks are also composed of various minerals, and these minerals can be very complex in chemical composition, ranging from pure elements to complex silicates.
Ceramic
Ceramic solids are usually composed of inorganic compounds, such as metal oxides, and are chemically inert and can withstand chemical attack in acidic or alkaline environments. The characteristics of ceramic materials in terms of high temperature resistance and high strength make them widely used in construction, medical and electronic fields.
Glass ceramic
Glass-ceramic materials combine the various properties of amorphous glass and crystalline ceramics, and classic examples include cooking utensils. Their structure is able to withstand drastic thermal changes and have very low liquid transmission rates. In addition, such materials have applications in camera lenses and eco-friendly home appliances.
Organic solids
The study scope of organic solids includes wood, paraffin, naphthalene, various plastics and polymers, etc. The excellent physical properties of wood have made it an important material for construction and packaging since ancient times, and the analysis of its chemical composition is of great significance for environmental protection and sustainable development.
Composite materials
Composite materials are composed of two or more materials. A common example is reinforced concrete. These materials are designed to have properties superior to their component parts, making them ubiquitous in modern engineering.
Semiconductors and Nanomaterials
Semiconductor materials play a key role in modern electronic devices, including transistors, solar cells, and integrated circuits. Nanomaterials have been a research hotspot in recent years. Their unique physical and chemical properties make them widely used in medical treatment, materials science and electronic products.
From ice cubes to metals, solids are ubiquitous in our lives, and their unique properties make our modern technology and lives colorful.
The diversity of such solids and their importance in daily life make us think: With the advancement of science and technology in the future, how will the development of solid materials affect our lifestyle?
