Isotropic vs. Anisotropic

Main Difference

The main difference between isotropic and anisotropic is that the isotropic is that the physical and chemical properties of the compound mainly not depend on the direction and dimensions, whereas the anisotropic is that the chemical and physical properties of the compounds mainly rest on the directions and dimensions.

Difference Between Isotropic and Anisotropic

Comparison Chart

Isotropic vs. Anisotropic

Isotropic compounds are direction independent, whereas the anisotropic compounds are direction-dependent. Isotropic properties are known for their constant and invariable values; on the other hand; anisotropic properties are variable. Isotropic compounds have only one type of refractive index; on the flip side, anisotropic compounds have more than one type of refractive index.

The characteristics like optical activity, dispersion, birefringence, and dichroism are absent in isotropic compounds while the characteristics like optical activity, dispersion, birefringence, dichroism are present in the anisotropic compounds. Isotropic compounds have consistent chemical bonding in chemical reactions; on the other hand, anisotropic compounds have inconsistent chemical bonding in chemical reactions.

Isotropic compounds usually have a dark appearance in nature, whereas the anisotropic compounds usually have a bright appearance in nature. The isotropic compound does not have its ability to pass the sunlight through itself; on the flip side, the anisotropic compound has its ability to pass through the sunlight through itself.

The ability of conduction of electricity in isotropic compounds is the same in all directions; on the other hand, the ability of the conduction of electric current in anisotropic compounds is different in different directions. The speed of light in isotropic compounds is the same in all directions; on the flip side, the speed of light in anisotropic compounds is different in different directions.

The applications of isotropic compounds lie in lenses while the applications of anisotropic compounds lie in optical polarizers. The process of double refraction is absent in the isotropic compounds, whereas the process of refraction is present in the anisotropic compounds. The example of an isotropic substance is glass; on the flip side, the example of anisotropic compounds is wood.

The chemical, physical, and mechanical properties of isotropic compounds do not depend on the orientation of the crystals; on the other hand, the mechanical, chemical, and physical properties of anisotropic compounds depend on the orientation of the crystals. The radiations of the isotropic crystals have the same intensity in all the directions; on the flip side, the radiations of the anisotropic crystals do not have the same intensity in all the directions.

The term “iso” means equal; on the contrary, the term “Aniso” means unequal. Isotopic compounds have the cubic symmetry, whereas the anisotropic compounds do not have the cubic symmetry. Isotropic materials include in amorphous substances like glasses, etc.; on the other hand, the anisotropic materials include in composite materials such as wood, etc.

What is Isotropic?

The word isotropic means the same that refers to the physical, mechanical, and chemical properties that are same in all directions. The properties of isotropic are not direction-dependent. They are same in all ways and are constant. The composition of the isotopic crystals includes amorphous materials. The chemical bonding in isotropic usually refers to consistent behavior.

The cell walls of the plants always considered as the isotropic material whose different properties and characteristics are the same in all the directions. The cubic crystals usually include in the isotropic substances such as sodium salts and rock salts also are known for its invariable properties. The hardness or the solidity of the cubic crystals remain same whether the direction or the conditions of the solids are.

The optical properties are usually not present in the isotropic crystals as it is the property that depends on the directions of the atomic arrangements. The examples of isotropic are Glasses, Lead cables, Rock salt, Sodium salt, etc

Characteristics

• Properties are direction-dependent.
• Isotropic crystals have cubic symmetry.
• The conduction of electricity is the same in all directions.
• The force of radiation is not different in all directions.
• Double refraction is not common in isotropic crystals.
• It has no optical activity.
• It has no dispersion effect.
• It has no dichroism effect.
• It has a dark presence in the landscape.
• The velocity of sunlight is the same in every orientation.
• Sunlight cannot pass through it.
• The composition of isotropic is amorphous

Applications

• Use in lasers
• Use in windows
• Used as a reference for antenna
• Used in the isotopic radiators

What is Anisotropic?

The term anisotropic means not the same refers to the chemical, physical, and mechanical properties that varying with the change in position, place, and the orientation. It means all the properties of the anisotropic crystals are mainly the orientation-dependent. They are variable in different directions. The composition of the anisotropic crystals mainly includes composite materials.

The inner cytoplasm of the living cells of the organisms is mainly anisotropic who’s all the chemical, mechanical, and physical properties are continuously changing with the change in direction and dimensions because of the presence of the inter-cellular organelles in the cytoplasm. The examples of anisotropic are Wood, Cubic crystals, Gypsum, etc

Characteristics

• Properties are direction independent.
• Isotropic crystals do not have cubic symmetry.
• The conduction of electricity is not the same in all directions.
• The radiation force is not the same in all orientations.
• Double refraction is common in isotropic crystals.
• It has more than one refractive index.
• It has optical activity.
• It has a dispersion effect.
• It has a dichroism effect.
• It has a bright appearance in nature.
• The velocity of light is different in all dimensions.
• Sunlight can pass through it.
• The composition of isotropic is of composite materials

Applications

• Use for polarizers,
• Use for optical waveplates,
• Use for wedges,
• Used in magnetic materials,
• Used in electronic materials, etc.

Conclusion

The above discussion concludes that both the isotropic and anisotropic are the main types of crystalline solids. The isotropic crystals have the properties of orientation independent, whereas the anisotropic crystals have the properties of orientation-dependent.