Crystal engineering

Crystal engineering is like building with blocks. When we play with blocks, we take different shapes and put them together to make something bigger and more interesting. In the same way, scientists use different molecules to build bigger and stronger crystals.

These molecules have different shapes and sizes and they can interact with each other in different ways. By playing with these molecules, scientists can create new crystals with unique properties. For example, they can make crystals that are very strong or crystals that can absorb and release certain substances.

This is important because these new crystals can be used in many different ways. They can be used in medicine to help people get better, in technology to make our gadgets work better, and even in construction to make buildings stronger.

In order to do crystal engineering, scientists use special tools to study the molecules and how they interact with each other. This helps them figure out how to put the molecules together in the best way possible to make the strongest and most useful crystal.