liquid crystals

what is the fourth state of matter

liquid and crystal

liquid properties (3)

• isotrophic

• transparent

• 1 refractive index

crystal properties (3)

• anisotrophic

• 3 refractive indicies

• doesnt flow

isotrophic vs anisotrophic meaning

• isotrophic means object has same properties in all directions

• anisotrophic means properties vary when tested in different directions

when something is mesogenic what is it

a liquid crystal

what is a mesophase

a liqud crystal phase

what is isotrophy

uniformity in all directions

when something is thermotropic what is it

behaviour as a function of temperature

what is lyotropic

solutions of compounds that have liquid crystal behaviour

what is birefringence, and what does this mean

the ability to rotate plate of plane polaried light meaning they have more than 2 refractive indices

what is a thermotropic liquid crystal

its temperature dependent

types of thermotropic liquid crystal (3)

• nematic

• smectic

• cholesteric

organic thermotropic liquid crystal properties (4)

• elongated

• rigid

• easily polarisable and contains dipoles

• nematic

what functional groups do organic thermotropic liquid crystals have

• esters

• anils

• azo compounds

• azoxy compounds

how do liquid crystal displays come about (LCD)

weak electrical signals emit an optical response