Isomorphous substances are those that retain both their crystal form and structure.
Understanding Isomorphism
According to the provided reference, substances are considered isomorphous when they possess the same crystal form and the same internal crystal structure. This shared characteristic means they crystallize in a similar manner and have comparable arrangements of their constituent particles.
Examples from the Reference
The reference offers clear examples of substances described as isomorphous:
- A substance that forms dark red crystals is noted as being isomorphous with ferrous sulphate.
- Another substance that crystallizes in the orthorhombic system and closely resembles stibnite (Sb2S3) in appearance is stated to be isomorphous with stibnite.
These examples demonstrate that different chemical substances can exhibit isomorphism, sharing key crystallographic properties.
Characteristics of Isomorphism Mentioned
Based on the reference, key aspects of isomorphism include:
- Shared Crystal Form: The external shape of the crystals is similar.
- Shared Crystal Structure: The internal arrangement of atoms or molecules is alike.
- Correlation with Other Properties: Isomorphism can occur between substances exhibiting specific colors (like dark red crystals) or belonging to the same crystal system (like the orthorhombic system).
Essentially, being isomorphous means having a fundamental similarity in how the substance arranges itself in solid crystalline form.
