Norman Wells coughed up some electrons that declared:

Tim S wrote:
Norman Wells coughed up some electrons that declared:

No atomic or sub-atomic effects at all.

So nothing to do with the interactions of the electrons then?

No.

What do you think allows atoms to form a crystalline structure then.
Magic?

No. Shape mainly.

Pour a large number of marbles onto a tray. Do they form a completely
random pattern, or is there some symmetry in the arrangement they
naturally adopt?

Do the marbles form any sort of bond?

If not, then how do you propose to store energy by distorting such a
structure?