PYQ Vault

MHT-CET Chemistry · Teaching notes

Solid State — MHT-CET Chemistry

Solid State is the first chapter of the Class 12 Chemistry book and about three questions a paper in MHT-CET, with barely one in fifteen HARD. Two thirds of it is arithmetic on four numbers: the particles per cubic unit cell (1, 2, 4), the edge–radius relations, the packing efficiencies (52.4%, 68%, 74%) and the density formula that ties them to molar mass. The rest is recall: crystalline against amorphous, the seven crystal systems and fourteen Bravais lattices, the void counts, the named point defects, dopants and magnetism. The pages below run in the book's order, because each calculation page uses the constants the previous one fixed. Every PYQ is tagged.

Every subtopic, worked example, formula and trap in one printable document — answers shown, ready to share.

Subtopic notes

PYQ weightage by concept

18 concepts · 132 PYQs — where the marks actually sit, so you know what to drill first

Types of Solids, Crystal Systems and Properties17 PYQs · 13%
ConceptPYQsShare
Crystalline Versus Amorphous Solids75%
Seven Crystal Systems, Fourteen Bravais Lattices65%
Ionic, Covalent Network, Molecular and Metallic Solids43%
Unit Cells, Edge Length and Atomic Radius30 PYQs · 23%
ConceptPYQsShare
Edge Length From Radius: Where the Atoms Touch1612%
Particles Per Unit Cell and Coordination Number86%
Unit Cell Volume and the Volume of Its Atoms65%
Packing Efficiency and Voids27 PYQs · 20%
ConceptPYQsShare
Occupied Volume, Void Volume and the Volume Per Particle118%
Tetrahedral and Octahedral Voids: 2N and N86%
Formula of a Compound From the Voids the Cations Fill54%
Packing Efficiency: 52.4%, 68%, 74%32%
Density and Crystal Structure Calculations43 PYQs · 33%
ConceptPYQsShare
Counting Unit Cells and Atoms in a Mass or a Volume1411%
Molar Mass From Density97%
The Density Formula and the Lumped Constants86%
Unit Cell Volume From Density and Molar Mass65%
Which Structure? Solve for n65%
Crystal Defects, Magnetic Properties and Semiconductors15 PYQs · 11%
ConceptPYQsShare
Band Gap, n-Type and p-Type Doping75%
Point Defects: Schottky, Frenkel, Impurity and Non-Stoichiometric54%
Diamagnetic, Paramagnetic, Ferromagnetic32%

Formula & revision sheet

14 formulas · 4 reference tables · 18 gotchas across all subtopics — the exam-eve cheat-sheet

Types of Solids, Crystal Systems and Properties

Formulas (1)

Reference tables (2)

Crystalline Versus Amorphous Solids5 rows
PropertyCrystallineAmorphous
ArrangementLong-range order, regular and periodicShort-range order only
MeltingSharp, definite temperatureSoftens over a range of temperature
Directional propertiesAnisotropic — refractive index, conductivity vary with directionIsotropic — the same in every direction
'Crystalline solids are isotropic' is the planted false statement.
Heat of fusionDefiniteNot definite
ExamplesDiamond, NaCl, ice, graphite, ceramics, sodiumGlass, plastic, rubber, metallic glass
Ice and ceramics are crystalline; only glass-like solids are amorphous.
Isotropy belongs to amorphous solids; anisotropy to crystalline ones.
Ionic, Covalent Network, Molecular and Metallic Solids4 rows
ClassParticlesBinding forceExamples
IonicIonsElectrostaticNaCl, KCl, CaF2_2
Covalent networkAtomsCovalent bonds in a networkDiamond, silica (SiO2\text{SiO}_2), SiC, graphite
Silica is covalent, not ionic — Si–O bonds run through the whole crystal.
MolecularMoleculesDispersion, dipole–dipole or hydrogen bondsIce, dry ice, solid Ar, I2_2, naphthalene
Ice is a MOLECULAR solid: hydrogen bonds between H₂O molecules.
MetallicCations + mobile electronsMetallic bondCu, Fe, Na, Ag
Classify by the force between the particles, not by the element's name.
Unit Cells, Edge Length and Atomic Radius

Formulas (3)

Watch out for (3)

Packing Efficiency and Voids

Formulas (4)

Watch out for (4)

Density and Crystal Structure Calculations

Formulas (5)

Watch out for (5)

Crystal Defects, Magnetic Properties and Semiconductors

Formulas (1)

  • Band Gap, n-Type and p-Type Doping · Dopant rule
    Group 15 (P, As, Sb)→n-type;Group 13 (B, Al, Ga, In)→p-type\text{Group 15 (P, As, Sb)} \to n\text{-type};\qquad \text{Group 13 (B, Al, Ga, In)} \to p\text{-type}

Reference tables (2)

Point Defects: Schottky, Frenkel, Impurity and Non-Stoichiometric5 rows
DefectWhat happensEffect on densityExamples
SchottkyEqual numbers of cations and anions missingDecreasesNaCl, KCl, CsCl, AgBr
FrenkelIon leaves its site for an interstitial positionUnchangedZnS, AgCl, AgBr, AgI
AgBr shows BOTH Schottky and Frenkel.
Substitutional impurityForeign atom replaces a host atomDependsBrass (Zn in Cu), Cd²⁺ in AgCl
Interstitial impuritySmall foreign atom in a voidIncreasesStainless steel (C in Fe)
Brass is SUBSTITUTIONAL, steel is INTERSTITIAL — size decides.
Non-stoichiometricCation:anion ratio ≠ formulaVaries( ext{Fe}_{0.95} ext{O}) (deficiency), NaCl with F-centres (excess)
Missing → Schottky, displaced → Frenkel, foreign → impurity, wrong ratio → non-stoichiometric.
Diamagnetic, Paramagnetic, Ferromagnetic5 rows
BehaviourElectronsIn a fieldExamples
DiamagneticAll pairedWeakly repelledNaCl, H₂O, C₆H₆, N₂
ParamagneticUnpaired, randomWeakly attracted, temporaryO₂, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, NO
O₂ is paramagnetic, never ferromagnetic.
FerromagneticUnpaired, aligned in domainsStrongly attracted, permanentFe, Co, Ni, Gd, CrO₂
CrO₂ is the one ferromagnetic COMPOUND the paper lists.
AntiferromagneticAligned opposite, equalNet zeroMnO
FerrimagneticAligned opposite, unequalWeakly attractedFe₃O₄, ferrites
Count unpaired electrons, then ask whether they line up.

Watch out for (3)