Formula of a Compound and Number of Voids Filled
- The number of octahedral voids present in a lattice = The number of close packed particles.
- The number of tetrahedral voids produced is twice this number.
- In ionic solids, the bigger ions i.e. anions forms close packed structure and the smaller ions i.e. cations occupy the voids.
- If the latter ion is small then tetrahedral voids are occupied, if bigger, then octahedral voids are occupied.
- In a compound, the fraction of octahedral or tetrahedral voids that are occupied depends upon the chemical formula of the compound.
- Close packed structures have both tetrahedral and octahedral voids.
