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← JEE Advanced 2022 · Paper 2
ChemistrySingle correct+3 / -1Question 51 of 54

JEE Advanced 2022 · Paper 2, Chemistry question 15

Atom X occupies the fcc lattice sites as well as alternate tetrahedral voids of the same lattice. The packing efficiency (in %) of the resultant solid is closest to

Choose one option
Answer and worked solution

Official answer: B

Atoms per cell. fcc lattice sites give 4 atoms. Alternate tetrahedral voids give 4 of the 8, so the cell holds 8 atoms.

Atom radius. A tetrahedral void is a quarter of the way along the body diagonal, so an atom there touches the corner atom:
2r=3a4  ⟹  r=3a8.2r=\frac{\sqrt3a}4\implies r=\frac{\sqrt3a}8.

Packing efficiency.
η=8⋅43πr3a3=32π3⋅33512=3π16≈0.34.\eta=\frac{8\cdot\frac43\pi r^3}{a^3}=\frac{32\pi}3\cdot\frac{3\sqrt3}{512}=\frac{\sqrt3\pi}{16}\approx0.34.
That is about 34%, closest to 35. (B).