The number of nearest neighbours of each sphere in hexagonal closed packing pattern in its own layer will be

Options

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

Answer

To solve the question regarding the number of nearest neighbors of each sphere in a hexagonal closed packing (HCP) pattern in its own layer, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Hexagonal Closed Packing (HCP)**:
- In HCP, spheres are arranged in a specific pattern where each sphere is surrounded by others in a hexagonal manner.

2. **Identifying the Layers**:
- HCP consists of alternating layers, typically labeled as A and B. The first layer is A, and the second layer is B, with spheres in the B layer fitting into the voids of the A layer.

3. **Analyzing a Sphere in Its Own Layer**:
- We focus on a single sphere in the A layer. To determine its nearest neighbors, we look at the arrangement of spheres around it.

4. **Counting Nearest Neighbors**:
- In the A layer, each sphere touches six other spheres. This can be visualized as follows:
- If you consider one sphere in the center, it will be surrounded by six spheres forming a hexagon around it.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the number of nearest neighbors of each sphere in its own layer (A layer) of hexagonal closed packing is 6.

6. **Final Answer**:
- The answer to the question is option B: 6.