Which statement best describes the influence of the host's habit on a negative crystal's crystallographic shape?

Which statement best describes the influence of the host's habit on a negative crystal's crystallographic shape?

• A. It has no relation to the host.
• B. It mimics the host's habit.
• C. It is opposite to the host's habit.
• D. It depends on the host's color.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a negative crystal grows within the space defined by the host crystal, so its outline tends to follow the same geometric pattern as the host’s habit. Because the host’s lattice and growth directions set the boundaries of the cavity, the negative crystal often mirrors that habit rather than forming a completely unrelated shape. The other ideas don’t fit because the space and shape are governed by the host’s crystallography, not by color or unrelated independence.

The key idea is that a negative crystal grows within the space defined by the host crystal, so its outline tends to follow the same geometric pattern as the host’s habit. Because the host’s lattice and growth directions set the boundaries of the cavity, the negative crystal often mirrors that habit rather than forming a completely unrelated shape. The other ideas don’t fit because the space and shape are governed by the host’s crystallography, not by color or unrelated independence.