| 1. | a solid, homogeneous mixture of substances, as glass or certain alloys. |
| 2. | (in a crystal structure) the more or less complete substitution of one kind of atom, ion, or molecule for another that is chemically different but similar in size and shape; isomorphism. |
| solid solution n. A homogeneous crystalline structure in which one or more types of atoms or molecules may be partly substituted for the original atoms and molecules without changing the structure. |
| solid solution
A uniform mixture of substances in solid form. Solid solutions often consist of two or more types of atoms or molecules that share a crystal lattice, as in certain metal alloys. Much of the steel used in construction, for example, is actually a solid solution of iron and carbon. The carbon atoms, which fit neatly within the iron's crystal lattice, add strength to its structure. |