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Chemistry Forums for Students => Inorganic Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: everydaygame on October 23, 2008, 05:18:08 AM

Title: Z axis and C axis?
Post by: everydaygame on October 23, 2008, 05:18:08 AM

Hi
   When reffering to a crystal structure and in particular its ferroelectirc properties how are the axis correctly named. I have seen both C and Z used to name the unique polar axis and I am assuming this is because some use abc and some use xyz when labbeling axis. Is this right?

Title: Re: Z axis and C axis?
Post by: AWK on October 23, 2008, 06:13:33 AM

x, y z are mathematical notation for axes.
a, b, c denotes crystallographic directions
but mathematics and crystallography are related sciences, hence some pepeple use (not correcly) mathematical notation and crystallographer understand this error correclty.