face-centered cubic

A face-centered cubic (FCC) is a type of crystal structure where atoms are arranged in a repeating pattern. Imagine a cube where atoms sit at each corner and also at the centers of all six faces. This arrangement is highly efficient, packing atoms tightly together with minimal empty space. Many metals, like aluminum, copper, and gold, naturally form this structure, which gives them desirable properties like malleability and strength. The FCC structure's symmetry and density contribute significantly to a material's physical characteristics and behavior under stress.