Hexagonal unit cell

A hexagonal unit cell is a basic building block used to describe the arrangement of atoms in certain crystals. It has a six-sided shape with angles that are 120 degrees, forming a repeating pattern in three dimensions. Imagine stacking honeycomb-like layers where each atom sits at vertices, creating a compact, efficient structure. This shape helps scientists understand the crystal’s properties, such as strength and how it interacts with light or heat, by analyzing how these unit cells pack together to form the entire material.