Structure of Solid CO2: Face-Centered Cubic w/ 4 Atoms?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the structural characteristics of solid carbon dioxide (CO2), specifically whether it adopts a face-centered cubic (FCC) arrangement with four CO2 units in the unit cell. Participants are seeking literature sources and specific data regarding bond lengths and unit cell dimensions across different phases of solid CO2.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that CO2 may have a face-centered cubic structure with four CO2 units in the unit cell, but they seek confirmation from literature sources.
  • One participant notes the difficulty in finding reliable sources for what seems to be a straightforward topic, expressing a need for bond lengths and unit cell dimensions.
  • A participant references a specific paper by C.S. Yoo et al. (1999) that may provide relevant information and experimental data on the structure of solid CO2.
  • There is a discussion about the differences in chemical interactions between CO2 (dry ice) and SiO2 (quartz), highlighting the context of weak versus covalent interactions.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the structure of solid CO2, as there are varying opinions and a lack of definitive literature to support the claims made. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the exact structural details.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the availability of reliable data on bond lengths and unit cell dimensions, indicating potential limitations in the existing literature on solid CO2.

jd1828
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If found a few places that suggest that CO2 1 has a face center cubic with 4 CO2 atoms in the unit cell. Does this sound right? I could also use some literature source that backs this up.
 
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jd1828 said:
If found a few places that suggest that CO2 1 has a face center cubic with 4 CO2 atoms in the unit cell. Does this sound right? I could also use some literature source that backs this up.


They wouldn't be CO2 atoms, but that was a deliberate mistake to check we were paying attention, right?! A few links I found on Google seem to back up what you've got (FCC), but not found anything conclusive so far.
 
It seems strange that I can't find any good souces on something that sounds so simple. I should also add that what I am really looking for here is the bond lenghts or I guess the distances between atoms. the size of the unit cell (edge length or whatever its called). This can be at any temp and pressure as long as it is still with in the first solid phase of CO2. I guess I could also go with data from the other phases as well but I would like to start with CO2 (I) first. I am trying to represent a unit cell of CO2 in cartesian coordinates
 
Last edited:
No time to figure this out (am in a bit of a rush), but I remembered that this guy out in California did some work on this topic a while back and managed to find the citation via Google which may help:
C.S. Yoo, et al (1999) Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 (26): 5527-5530.
I would think a face-centered cubic structure would be OK as a first try, though. As I had to explain to one of my students a while back, you see the difference between the strength of weak chemical interactions versus covalent interactions when comparing carbon dioxide (dry ice) and silicon dioxide (quartz) quite clearly...
 
Mike H said:
No time to figure this out (am in a bit of a rush), but I remembered that this guy out in California did some work on this topic a while back and managed to find the citation via Google which may help:
C.S. Yoo, et al (1999) Phys. Rev. Lett. 83 (26): 5527-5530.
I would think a face-centered cubic structure would be OK as a first try, though. As I had to explain to one of my students a while back, you see the difference between the strength of weak chemical interactions versus covalent interactions when comparing carbon dioxide (dry ice) and silicon dioxide (quartz) quite clearly...

Thanks, I found the paper and looks like it has everything I was looking for. It also has the experimental data for several other phases too which I would have needed at some point as well.
 

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