kristallsüsteem

Kristallsysteem is a term used in crystallography to describe the classification of crystals based on their symmetry. There are seven crystal systems, each defined by the relative lengths and angles of its crystallographic axes. These systems are cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, triclinic, hexagonal, and trigonal. The cubic system is the most symmetrical, with all axes equal in length and perpendicular to each other. The triclinic system is the least symmetrical, with all axes of different lengths and angles that are not necessarily perpendicular.

The crystal system of a substance determines many of its physical properties, including its cleavage, hardness, and optical characteristics. For example, minerals with a cubic crystal system often exhibit perfect cleavage in three perpendicular directions. Understanding the crystal system is crucial for identifying minerals and for predicting their behavior in various applications, such as in materials science and geology. Each crystal system can be further subdivided into 32 crystallographic point groups, which describe the full range of symmetry operations possible for a crystal. These point groups are then grouped into 230 space groups, which describe the complete symmetry of a crystal, including translational symmetry. The systematic study of crystal systems forms the foundation of crystallography.