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Crystal Defects Stoichiometric: Definition of Crystal Defects, Line Defect, Types of Point Defects, Stoichiometric Defects, Frankel Defect, Schottky Defect, Non-stoichiometric Defects, Practice Problems and FAQs:

Crystal Defects Stoichiometric: Definition of Crystal Defects, Line Defect, Types of Point Defects, Stoichiometric Defects, Frankel Defect, Schottky Defect, Non-stoichiometric Defects, Practice Problems and FAQs:

Imagine a cinema is to be screened at 6pm. There are two situations. One the doors are opened sufficiently in advance for people to come in and take their seats. And the second option is to open say at around 5.50pm. Obviously, all will rush in at the same time and there will be a confusion in getting the correct allotted seats.Well, it is obvious that 10mts will not be enough to follow a perfect arrangement. You can be sure that some people will be occupying others seats.


Similarly, crystalline solids contains a large number of small crystals containing the constituent particles arranged in a perfect order. This happens when crystallisation takes place on its own, very slowly without any disturbance. In a disturbed or fast crystallisation, the constituent particles may not get sufficient time to find their right place and instead get accommodated in some others place.This wrong placement affecting a perfect orderly arrangement of a crystal is referred as crystal defect.

Table of Contents

  • Defects in crystalline solids
  • Stoichiometric Defects
  • Defects shown by non-ionic solids
  • Defects shown by ionic solids
  • Non-Stoichiometric Defects
  • Practice problems
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Definition of Defects

Any departure from a perfectly ordered arrangement of constituent particles in a crystal is called imperfection or defect.

There are two types of defects 

A. Point defect
B. Line defect

Line defect

The defect is called Line defect when the deviation from the ideal arrangement occurs throughout the entire row( or in one direction/axis) of lattice points.

You can see an additional group(vertical line)of particles in the last three rows of the crystal in the shown figure.


Point defect

When deviations or irregularities exist from the ideal arrangement around a point or an atom in a crystalline substance, the defect is called point defect.


Point defects in a crystal may be classified into the following three categories

a) Stoichiometric defects
b) Impurity defects
c) Non-stoichiometric defects 

Stoichiometric Defects

If imperfection in the crystals are such that the ratio between the cations and anions remains the same as represented by the molecular formula, i.e., stoichiometry of the solid is not disturbed, the defects are called stoichiometric defects.

These are also called intrinsic defects or thermodynamic defects and it is further classified into following types:

1. Defects shown by non-ionic solids
2. Defects shown by ionic solids

Defects shown by non-ionic solids

Vacancy defect

Interstitial defect 

When in a crystalline substance, some of the lattice sites are vacant, the crystal is said to have vacancy defect/thermodynamic defect (as this defect arises due to absorption of heat from the surrounding).

The crystal is said to have interstitial defect when extra constituent particles are present in the interstitial sites.

It results in the decrease in the density of the substance because mass in the same volume of the crystal decreases.

This defect results in the increase in the density of the substance because mass increases but volume remains the same.


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Vacancy Defect



Interstitial Defect

Defects shown by ionic solids

Schottky defect

Frenkel defect

If in an ionic crystal of the type A+B_an equal number of cations and anions are missing from their lattice sites so that the electrical neutrality is maintained, it is called Schottky defect. 

If an ion is missing from its lattice site but occupies an interstitial site, electrical neutrality, as well as the stoichiometry of the compound, are maintained. This type of defect is called frenkel defect.

Ionic compounds showing this type of defect have 

  1. High coordination number and
  2. Only small differences in the size between cations and anions.

This type of defect is shown by ionic solids with

  1. Low coordination number.and
  2. Large difference in the size between cations and anions.

Example: NaCl, KCl, and CsCl

Examples: silver halides (AgCl.AgI and ZnS)

The mass decreases as the number of ions decreases as a result of this defect, while the volume remains constant. As a result, the solid's density decreases, similar to a vacancy defect. 

The density of the solid remains constant as there are no ions missing from the crystal.



Schottky defect


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Frankel Defect

 AgBr shows both Frenkel and Schottky defect.

Consequences of Schottky and Frenkel defects

  • As an ion moves from its lattice site to occupy a hole, it creates a new hole. A hole is created in the crystal, which causes the charge to move in the opposite direction. As a result, solids with these defects conduct electricity.
  • Due to the presence of holes, lattice energy or stability of the crystal decreases.
  • Dielectric constant of the crystal increases in case of Frenkel defects because in this defect similar charges come closer.

Non-Stoichiometric Defects

These are the imperfections in the crystal leading to a difference in, the ratio of the cations to the anions than expected from an ideal pure crystal lattice. The stochiometry of these crystals are hence different from the pure crystals and so are allied non-stoichiometric defects.

Nonstoichiometric defects may arise by:

a) Metal excess 
b) Metal deficiency

Practice problems

Q1. ZnS has a theoretical density of d gcm-3. If the crystal has 4% Frenkel defect, then the actual density of ZnS should be:

A.  d gcm-3
B.  0.04d gcm-3
C.  0.96d gcm-3
D.  1.0 d gcm-3

Answer: A)

Solution: The theoretical density of ZnS is d g/cm3. If the crystal has 4% Frenkel defect,

then the actual density of ZnS does not change because cations missing from

their lattice sites occupies the interstitial sites. Therefore, it should be d g/cm3

Q2. Silver bromide AgBr(s) crystals exhibit which of the following point defect and why?

1. Schottky defect
2. Frankel defect
3. Metal excess defect
4. Metal deficiency defect

A) i & ii
B) iii & iv
C) i & iii
D) ii & iv

Answer: A)

Solution: Schottky defects occur when ions are missing from their lattice point, while Frenkel defects occur when missing ions occupy interstitial sites. In the case of AgBr, both silver and bromide ions have almost similar radius with radius ratio is neither too large nor too close, So it exhibits both Frenkel and Schottky defects. The Frenkel defect is the most common defect in AgBr. It has a ccp lattice, in which Br atoms coexist with Ag atoms in all octahedral holes. When Ag transitions from octahedral to tetrahedral sites, only cations precipitate.

Q3. When a solid is heated, what kind of defect can occur? Which physical attribute is altered, and how?

Answer: When a solid is heated, the Crystal develops a vacancy defect. Because some atoms and ions completely leave the lattice site when heated, some lattice sides become vacant. The density of the substance decreases as some atoms/ions completely leave the Crystal as a result of this defect.

Q4. Which of the following is not a point defect

A. Stoichiometric defect
B. Non-stoichiometric defect
C. Impurity defect
D. None of the above.

Answer: (D)

Solution: defects in crystals have been classified into two categories 

  • Point defect
  • Line defect

Point defect is further classified into 3 categories that is 

  • Stoichiometric defect
  • Non-stoichiometric defect
  • Impurity defect

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Why is there no frankel defect in pure alkali metal halides?
Answer: Due to the large size of alkali metal ions it would be difficult to fit the ions in the interstitial sites of crystals. Hence, alkali metal halides doesn’t show frankel defect.

Q2. Why Stoichiometric defects are also called intrinsic defects?
Answer: Stoichiometric defects are so called because they do not alter the stoichiometry of the Crystal. they are called intrinsic defects because it is due to the deviation from regular arrangement of atoms or ions within the Crystal and no external substance is added.

Q3. Is it possible to make a perfect crystal i.e, with zero defects?
Answer: No it is almost impossible to make a perfect crystal. Because only at absolute zero temperature a crystal will be defectless and attending 0 K is not possible. So crystal will have some amount of defect.

Q4. What is the difference between the interstitial defect of ionic and nonionic solids?
Answer: 
In ionic solids, an interstitial defect also called as Frankel defect, the ions present at lattice point vacate it and move to interstitial position. In the interstitial defect non ionic solids , forgein material come and occupy the interstitial positions

Related Topics

Types of Solids

Crystal defects-nonstoichiometric

Electrical properties

Types of Unit Cell & Crystal Lattice

Crystal system and Bravais lattice 

Magnetic properties

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