cassiteritetyyppinen

Cassiteritetyyppinen is a Finnish term that translates to "cassiterite-type" in English. It refers to a crystal structure that is analogous to that of cassiterite, which is the mineral form of tin(IV) oxide, SnO2. Minerals and compounds with the cassiterite-type structure share a common arrangement of atoms.

The cassiterite structure is tetragonal and features a distorted rutile framework. In this arrangement, each tin atom is coordinated by six oxygen atoms, forming distorted octahedra. Each oxygen atom is then shared by three tin atoms. This specific coordination and bonding pattern is characteristic of the cassiterite structure and defines the cassiterite-type structure when observed in other chemical compounds.

Many metal oxides and some sulfides crystallize with this structure. Examples include lead dioxide (PbO2), silicon dioxide (SiO2) in its stishovite polymorph, and titanium dioxide (TiO2) in its brookite polymorph. Understanding the cassiterite-type structure is important in mineralogy and materials science, as it influences the physical and chemical properties of the substances that adopt it. Properties such as hardness, density, and optical characteristics can often be related to the underlying crystal structure. The study of cassiterite-type compounds contributes to the understanding of solid-state chemistry and the development of new materials.