Question

How can anyone differentiate crystalline and amorphous solids?

Answer 1

Hint: We can say that there are three fundamental states of matter, they are solid, liquids, and gaseous. We can classify solid state into two type’s namely crystalline solids and amorphous solids. We have to know that this classification of solid is based on particles arranged in an order geometry (or) random geometry.

Complete answer:
We have to know that in solids, the arrangement of particles is found in two ways. This signifies that particles could either form a regular and repeated three dimensional structure that could be called a crystal lattice. This would lead to a crystalline solid (or) the particles would be aggregated without any particular order and amorphous solid is formed. We have to know there is a huge difference between crystalline and amorphous solid. We could list the difference as,

Crystalline solid	Amorphous solid
We can say that a crystalline solid has regular and definite geometry.	We can say that in an amorphous solid, the particles are not regularly arranged.
Crystalline solids contain particles which are both short range order as well as long range order.	In amorphous solid, the geometry is not definite and the order is short range.
These solid possess melting points which are high and distinct.	Melting points are not sharp in an amorphous solid.
They exhibit heat of fusion	Specific heat of fusion is not exhibited by an amorphous solid.
These solids exhibit anisotropism	Amorphous solid exhibit isotropism.
These solids are true solids.	These solids are pseudo solids (or) super cooled liquids.

Note:
We have to remember that in a crystalline solid, the intermolecular forces are similar. Some of the examples of crystalline solids are benzoic acid, sodium chloride, diamond etc. In an amorphous solid, the intermolecular forces of attraction found between the particles are unequal. Naphthalene, glass etc are some of the examples of amorphous solids.