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Chemistry · Materials

Crystal Lab

Build crystals, explore Brillouin zones and electronic bands, and rotate an X-ray diffraction pattern.

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First lesson01 · Eight corners, one atomSee all 28 lessons →

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The course

9 worlds · 28 lessons

World 1 · Atoms in a repeating cell

FREE
  1. 01Eight corners, one atom
  2. 02One in the middle
  3. 03Six shared faces
  4. 04Space between atoms

World 2 · Miller planes

PRO
  1. 01Parallel means a zero indexPRO
  2. 02Cutting two axesPRO
  3. 03A triangular sectionPRO

World 3 · X-rays and crystal spacing

PRO
  1. 01An angle from an atomic spacingPRO
  2. 02When the lattice cancels a reflectionPRO

World 4 · Salt, diamond and layered carbon

PRO
  1. 01Two species, one repeating patternPRO
  2. 02A tetrahedron of neighboursPRO
  3. 03Three bonds in a sheetPRO
  4. 04Build a crystal by translationPRO

World 5 · Reciprocal space and Brillouin zones

PRO
  1. 01A cell in wavevector spacePRO
  2. 02Large cells, small reciprocal scalesPRO
  3. 03Equivalent Bloch wavevectorsPRO

World 6 · Bands from a two-site chain

PRO
  1. 01A gap from alternating hoppingPRO
  2. 02Bands repeat beyond a zonePRO

World 7 · From reciprocal points to detector spots

PRO
  1. 01Rotate a crystal, move its reflectionsPRO
  2. 02Wavelength sets a spot radiusPRO
  3. 03A missing spot is evidencePRO

World 8 · Protein structure: helices, sheets and folding

PRO
  1. 01Two angles make a helixPRO
  2. 02A β-hairpinPRO
  3. 03Bury the hydrophobic residuesPRO
  4. 04Read a real proteinPRO

World 9 · Drug design: docking a ligand into a pocket

PRO
  1. 01A key for a pocketPRO
  2. 02Score a pose, then minimisePRO
  3. 03Change one groupPRO
Read first

Guides for Crystal Lab

All guides →
Exam prep
Chemistry LabAP Chemistry Bonding and Structure: A Free Study GuideConnect atomic structure, ionic and covalent bonds, molecular shape and polarity to free interactive lessons, with a study plan and practice exam advice.4 min read
Explainer
Chemistry LabAtoms, Bonds and Molecular Shapes (VSEPR) ExplainedHow protons, electrons and valence shells lead to ionic and covalent bonds, and how VSEPR predicts the 3D shape of water, ammonia and carbon dioxide.5 min read
Explainer
Quantum LabHydrogen Orbitals Explained: Electron Clouds, Not OrbitsWhat an atomic orbital really is, why electrons are clouds of probability rather than tiny planets, and how nodes and quantum numbers shape hydrogen.4 min read