Sectility

Sectility

Sectility is the ability to be cut into pieces. Metals and paper are sectile.

Sectility can be used to distinguish minerals of similar appearance. For example, gold is sectile but pyrites ("fool's gold") are not.

Sectility in metals is a result of metallic bonding, where valence (bonding) electrons are delocalized and can flow freely between atoms, rather than being shared between specific pairs or groups of atoms, as in covalent bonding.

References

* [http://www.eas.slu.edu/People/Students/MPyle/mineralogy/Gold.html gold]
* [http://www.sciencebyjones.com/extra_bonding_notes.htm bonding notes]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Sectility — Sec*til i*ty, n. The state or quality of being sectile. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • sectility — sekˈtiləd.ē, ətē, i noun ( es) : the property or condition of being sectile the sectility of chalcocite * * * sectilˈity noun • • • Main Entry: ↑sect …   Useful english dictionary

  • sectility — noun see sectile …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sectility — See sectile. * * * …   Universalium

  • sectility — noun The property of being able to be cut; examples of materials with this property include wood, metal, and paper …   Wiktionary

  • sectility — n. ability to be cut smoothly …   English contemporary dictionary

  • sectility — sec·til·i·ty …   English syllables

  • sectile — sectility, n. /sek til/, adj. capable of being cut smoothly with a knife. [1710 20; < L sectilis cuttable, equiv. to sect(us) (ptp. of secare to cut; see SAW1) + ilis ILE] * * * …   Universalium

  • sectile — adjective Etymology: Latin sectilis, from sectus, past participle of secare Date: 1805 capable of being severed by a knife with a smooth cut < amber is a sectile resin > • sectility noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • sectile — /ˈsɛktaɪl/ (say sektuyl) adjective capable of being cut smoothly by a knife. {Latin sectilis} –sectility /sɛkˈtɪləti/ (say sek tiluhtee), noun …  

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