atomic structures of topaz?

Answer 1

Topaz is not an element. What’s worse, there are several closely related but different kinds of topaz, each of which has its own impurities and slightly different ingredients. But bear with me.

Topaz is mostly aluminum and silica. The chemical formula is AlSiO2, but it can also contain some OH (hydroxyl radicals) or fluorine (F). It forms orthorhombic crystals (look that up, I can’t draw it for you here.)

Topaz is usually pale yellow or brown. Most of the blue topaz you see in stores has been treated with radiation to change its color. Very rare topazes may be almost colorless, or pink

It is the chemical formula that causes topaz to form the crystals it does. The atoms fit together only in certain ways, and they have to spread out to a certain degree, which forms the angles. (This is a bit of an oversimplification, but I’m not trying to write a doctoral thesis here.) You might be able to find a web site where they will show a stick and ball figure of the molecules.

Topaz is relatively inexpensive, and you can sometimes find them in some parts of the US. In North Carolina, way up in the mountains, they erode out of the softer rock over time and are washed downstream. You can sift through the mud and gravel to find them. Go to Highlands, NC, if you can. It is well worth the trip. Good hunting!

5 JAN 07, 0122 hrs, GMT.