Materials differ from one another because of the differences in their properties. Differences in properties of various materials are due to the differences in their structure. Different materials possess different structures. The structure of material exhibits its internal and surface details. These details can be examined and expressed in different orders of magnification varying from a few times to several thousands.
In order of decreasing magnification, the structure of a solid material can be expressed as follows:
i. Atomic Structure
ii. Crystal structure
iii. Micro Structure
iv. Macro Structure
All solid materials consist of a large number of particles called molecules which are bound together to form the bulk material. Each molecule is further composed of tiny particles called atoms. Individual properties of atoms and their arrangement in the molecule determine the properties of the material. Therefore, to understand the properties and structure of materials, it is necessary to start with the structure and characteristics of individual atoms.
