Chapter 11, Problem 121RQ

Determining the Structure of Solids

How many zinc and sulfide ions are present in the unit cell of zinc sulfide? (Hint: See Figure 11.42 and add up all of the parts of the atoms in the fee unit cell.)

Figure 11.42 | Crystal structures based on the face-centered cubic lattice. Both zinc sulfide. ZnS, and calcium fluoride, ${\text{CaF}}_{\text{2}}$, have crystal structures that fit a face-centered cubic lattice. In ZnS, the sulfide ions are shown at the fee lattice sites with the four zinc ions entirely within the unit cell. In ${\text{CaF}}_{\text{2}}$, the calcium ions are at the lattice points with the eight fluorides entirely within the unit cell. Note: The ions are not shown full size to make it easier to see their locations in the unit cells.