Interstitial

Name:
Interstitial
Detailed information:
(1) Descriptive of a nonstoichiometric compound of a metal and a nonmetal whose structure conforms to a simple chemical formula, but exists over a limited range of chemical composition. Interstitial compounds are represented by borides, nitrides, and carbides of the transition metals. (2) Descriptive of an atom of an impurity that causes a defect or dislocation in a crystalline lattice, e.g., an atom of carbon or nitrogen in an iron crystal, or of arsenic in a semiconductor. (3) In a biological sense, the term describes cells located between or within layers of tissue.