Final answer:
A solid without a regular repeating pattern, such as butter or glass, is called an amorphous solid. Amorphous solids like glass have no ordered internal structure unlike crystalline solids, which exhibit a regular three-dimensional pattern.
Step-by-step explanation:
A solid that has no regular repeating pattern, such as butter or glass, is called an amorphous solid.
An amorphous solid is characterized by a lack of long-term, ordered internal structure, which distinguishes it from a crystalline solid. Crystalline solids have an ordered, regular three-dimensional arrangement of particles. Some common examples of amorphous solids include not only glass and butter but also rubber, plastic, and gels.
When we look at substances like glass, which are formed by quickly cooling a mixture so that it does not crystallize, we observe that these materials do not have a distinct melting point, contrasting with crystalline solids. Glass, in particular, is sometimes considered a supercooled liquid because of how its structure behaves at different temperatures, allowing it to be shaped by glassblowers.