The adjective, 'crystalline' when applied to solids, implies an ideal crystal in which the structural units, termed as unit cells, are repeated regularly and indefinitely in three demansions in space. The unit cell containing at least one molecule, has a definite orientation and shape defined by the translational vectors, a, b and c. The unit cell therefore has a definite volume, V that contains the atoms and molecules necessary for generating the crystal.
Every crystal can be classified as a member of one of the seven possible crystal systems or crystal classes that are defined by relationships, a, b and c of the unit cell and between the individual angles. α,β and γ of the unit cell. The structure of the given crystal may be assigned to one of the 230 space groups. These uniquely define the possible ways of arranging atoms in a three-dimentional solid.
Based on these observations, seven crystal systems were identified: tricilinic, monoclinic, trogonal or rhombohedral, tetragonal, hexagonal, rhombic or orthorhombic and cubic.
The crystal structure is obtained by associating structural motifs with lattice points. Each repeated motif has