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Mithoron
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If a crystal has alternating layers of different atoms, will it display different properties depending on which layer is exposed?

Many metal diboride compounds like $\ce{MgB2}$, $\ce{TiB2}$, and $\ce{ReB2}$ have laminated crystal structures with alternating sheets of metal atoms and boron atoms. If we polish the surface to ensure that only one type of atoms are facing outwards, will the two surfaces display different physical (such as friction coefficient, water contact angle) or chemical properties? enter image description here