Question

(b) Crystalline structures have lower energy than non-crystalline structures. Explain

Answer 1

so i think this is because the energy transmition between crystalles is harder and more bad than in a noncrystalline structure

Answer 2

Politely disagree with the previous response. In chemistry, lower energy means that the compounds are more stable. Crystalline structures minimize energy by minimizing the electrostatic repulsions between atoms.

The actual calculations are much more complicated than this question calls for, but here's a reference: https://chem.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Inorganic_Chemistry/Book%3A_Introduction_to_Inorganic_Chemistry/09%3A_Ionic_and_Covalent_Solids_-_Energetics/9.03%3A_Energetics_of_Crystalline_Solids-_The_Ionic_Model