Question

What is an amorphous solid?

Answer 1

An amorphous solid is a solid lacking ordered internal structure, exemplified by materials like glass, rubber, and plastics, with random particle arrangement and no distinct melting point.

Step-by-step explanation:

An amorphous solid is a type of solid matter that lacks an ordered internal structure. Unlike crystalline solids which have a regular and repeating three-dimensional arrangement of atoms, molecules, or ions, amorphous solids are characterized by a random arrangement of their constituent particles. Materials such as glass, rubber, and plastics are typical examples of amorphous solids. These materials do not have a distinct melting point, instead they soften gradually when heated, which allows them to be shaped and molded into various forms. It's also possible for amorphous solids like silicon dioxide to undergo a transition to a crystalline state under certain conditions.

Answer 2

In condensed matter physics and materials science, an amorphous or non-crystalline solid is a solid that lacks the long-range order that is characteristic of a crystal. In some older books, the term has been used synonymously with glass