A measure of the energy contained in the crystal lattice of a compound, equal to the energy that would be released if the component ions were brought together from infinity.
- In the case of van der Waals solids, the lattice energy can be calculated by summing up the pair potentials of interacting atoms using a secondary bond potential for atomic interactions.
- Furthermore, the surface of the bilayer of anhydrous cholesterol is highly corrugated and thus the lattice energy of such a bilayer is less stable than that of the flat bilayer and would be unfavorable on a flat water surface.
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Syllabification: lat·tice en·er·gy
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