How many nearest neighbours are there in an atom or ion for an octahedral hole of a closed packed structure?

Options

A. 4
B. 6
C. 8
D. 12

Answer

To determine the number of nearest neighbors for an atom or ion in an octahedral hole of a closed packed structure, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Concept of Octahedral Holes**:
- An octahedral hole is a type of void or empty space formed in a close-packed structure when six atoms are arranged in an octahedron shape.

2. **Visualize the Octahedral Hole**:
- In a three-dimensional arrangement, visualize the octahedral hole as being surrounded by six atoms. These atoms are positioned at the vertices of an octahedron, with one atom located at the center of the octahedron.

3. **Identify the Arrangement**:
- In a close-packed structure, when an atom or ion is placed in the octahedral hole, it will be in contact with the six surrounding atoms.

4. **Count the Nearest Neighbors**:
- The nearest neighbors for the atom or ion in the octahedral hole are the six atoms that are in direct contact with it. Therefore, the total number of nearest neighbors is 6.

5. **Conclude the Answer**:
- Thus, the number of nearest neighbors for an atom or ion in an octahedral hole of a closed packed structure is 6.

### Final Answer:
The number of nearest neighbors in an octahedral hole is **6**.

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