Amorphous solids are materials that lack a long-range ordered structure. Unlike crystalline solids, they do not have a definite geometric shape. Here are three examples of amorphous solids:
- Glass: Glass is one of the most common examples of an amorphous solid. It is made by cooling molten silica rapidly, which prevents the formation of a crystalline structure.
- Plastics: Many plastics, such as polystyrene and polyethylene, are amorphous solids. They are formed by polymerization processes that do not allow the molecules to arrange into a regular pattern.
- Rubber: Natural and synthetic rubbers are also amorphous solids. They are made up of long polymer chains that are tangled and disordered, giving them their flexible properties.
These materials are widely used in everyday life due to their unique properties and versatility.