Which of the following diagrams best illustrates how a displacement in an ionic crystal results in cleavage and brittleness?

Note: The image of the crystal before displacement is on the left. The image after displacement is on the right.

Summary Submit

Displacement involves the movement of ions. In the first option, ions shift in a way as to bring similar charges close together along an entire column. There will be repulsive forces between like charges, leading to brittleness (deformation or breakage).

In the second option, although one ion moved, the net structure is still stable since only one small region was modified.

In the third option, the sea of electrons for the metal are able to move to accomodate the displacement of the cation. The metal is malleable and ductile, but not necessarily brittle.

The last option shows a covalent cystal.