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. 2024 Feb 1;57(Pt 1):181–186. doi: 10.1107/S1600576724000207

Figure 3.

Two images labelled A and B. Image A has two structures, one with white jelly sweets representing the 3D diamond structure where each carbon atom is tetrahedrally bonded to its neighbours and one with burgundy jelly sweets representing the planar and hexagonal structure of graphite. Image B is a creation of a participant who has used multiple jelly sweets of various colours to construct their own unique interpretation of a crystal.

Examples of how the ‘sweet’ crystal structures can be used in a public engagement setting. In A, two representations of the allotropes of carbon have been constructed – diamond and graphite. These are both informative and tangible ways to demonstrate how the material properties of the two stem from their atomic bonding. B shows a rather inventive crystal structure put together by a young participant of the activity in Australia; this led to a discussion on the nature of bonding and stability in crystalline materials.