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Chemistry · Glossary

What is Covalent crystal?

Definition 6.11 University Chemistry — Year 1 · Chapter 6 — Crystals II: Ionic, Covalent and Molecular Solids

A covalent crystal (or network solid) is a crystal in which all the atoms are linked by covalent bonds into one giant molecule: diamond, silicon, quartz SiOX2\ce{SiO2}. In a layered covalent crystal such as graphite, the covalent network extends only in planes, which are held to one another by van der Waals interactions.

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