Selected phases characteristic of liquid-crystal-forming molecules

phase order

isotropic liquid full continuous translational and rotational symmetry

nematic molecular orientation breaks rotational symmetry

untilted tilted

smectic-A smectic-C layering breaks translational symmetry; smectic-C molecules are tilted

hexatic-B smectic-F bond orientational order breaks rotational symmetry within layers

crystal-B crystal-G crystallization breaks translational symmetry within layers; molecules may rotate about their long axis

crystal-E crystal-H molecular rotation freezes out