ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Madelung constant

Okay kiddo, let's talk about something called Madelung constant.

When we talk about Madelung constant, we are talking about a number that tells us how the electric charges between atoms in a crystal are arranged. A crystal is like a Lego structure, but instead of different colored blocks, we have different types of atoms that are connected like a net.

Now, scientists came up with this thing called the Madelung constant, which helps us to figure out how strong the attraction is between these atoms. Think of it like magnets sticking together. The closer two magnets are, the stronger the attraction between them.

Similarly, the closer two atoms are in a crystal, the stronger the electric charge between them. The Madelung constant takes into account the size of the atoms, how far apart they are, and their electric charge. It tells us how strongly the atoms interact with each other in the crystal.

So, in summary, the Madelung constant is like a secret code that helps scientists figure out how the atoms in a crystal are arranged and how they are attracted to each other. It's a really important concept in materials science because it can help us make new materials and understand how they work.