Unit cell

{
  "id": "MLC-T-CHM-012437",
  "term": "Unit cell",
  "field": "Chemistry",
  "definition": "The smallest repeating unit in a crystal lattice that, when translated in three dimensions, generates the entire crystal structure. It contains all the symmetry elements and atomic positions necessary to describe the crystal. For polymers, the unit cell describes the arrangement of monomeric units within the crystalline regions.",
  "subject": "Polymer",
  "references": [
    "Purple Book, 1st ed., p. 76 (http://old.iupac.org/publications/books/author/metanomski.html)"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/chemistry/unit-cell/"
}