Calculate crystal density from the cubic cell edge, formula units per cell, and molar mass.
| Density (g/cm³) | – |
Use this calculator for solid-state homework when you have the cubic edge a in picometres (or from XRD), Z (4 for FCC metals), and M, and need ρ in g/cm³.
ρ = Z × M / (N_A × a³), with N_A = 6.02214076×10²³ mol⁻¹. Edge a is converted from pm to cm (1 pm = 10⁻¹⁰ cm). Z is 4 for FCC, 2 for BCC, and 1 for primitive cubic. This is the geometric density of a perfect cubic cell; it does not include vacancies or thermal expansion.
Edge a (pm): Cubic cell edge in picometres. 352 pm is typical for FCC nickel; 564 pm for NaCl.
Z: Formula units per cell. FCC metals 4, BCC 2, primitive 1.
M (g/mol): Molar mass of the formula unit, in g/mol, 58.7 for Ni.
Density (g/cm³): Calculated crystal density.
Related calculators