Amorphous Solid
A non-crystalline solid lacking long-range periodic atomic translational order.
Governing formula
Short-range atomic order, No long-range translational order
SI unit
Solid State Structural Class
In depth
Amorphous solids freeze rapid liquid cooling without forming periodic crystal lattices. They lack sharp melting points, undergoing a gradual glass transition (T_g) from rigid glass to viscous liquid.
Examples in the real world
Window silica glass (SiO₂), metallic glasses, and amorphous silicon used in thin-film solar panels.