How many types of lattice points are there in a cubic close packed structure?

In a cubic close packed (CCP) structure, also known as face-centered cubic (FCC), there are two distinct types of lattice points that can be identified: one for the atoms located at the corners of the cube and the other for the atoms located at the face centers. Specifically, the corner atoms contribute to the overall structure but are shared among neighboring unit cells, accounting for one eighth of an atom per corner in the unit cell. Meanwhile, each face-centered atom is shared between two unit cells, contributing one half of an atom to the unit cell.

This distinction exemplifies how the arrangement of atoms within the cubic close-packed structure leads to these two unique lattice positions—one at the corners and another at the centers of faces. The result is a highly efficient packing arrangement, maximizing the coordination number of each atom, which is crucial for understanding metallic bonding and properties. Thus, the identification of two types of lattice points is key in describing the structural characteristics of a CCP structure effectively.