A unit cell of graphite consists on three layers. The atoms of carbon on the top layer and bottom layer are at the same lateral positions. The middle layer is shifted relative to the top and bottom layers.

The red lines are the boundaries of the graphite unit cell that intersects the bottom layer. This sheet contributes half of its atoms to the unit cell.

The red lines are the boundaries of the graphite unit cell that intersects the middle layer. The middle layer is shifted laterally relative to the top and bottom layers.

The red lines are the boundaries of the graphite unit cell that intersects the top layer. This sheet also contributes half of its atoms to the unit cell.

In adding the atoms of the three sheets within the red box, how many carbon atoms are there within the graphite unit cell ?

 

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Graphite Crystal Lattice