The investigation of the crystal structure of adipic acid, C4H8(COOH)(2), led to the identification of the periodic bond chains and to their classification as a function of their energy. This study has made it possible to deduce the theoretical morphology of the crystals and the surface morphologies of their different faces. The theoretical morphology consists of the {0 1 1}, {1 0 0}, {0 0 1}, {(1) over bar 0 2}, {1 1 (1) over bar} forms. The experimental growth morphology consists of the {0 1 1}, {1 0 0} and {0 0 1} forms, this latter form being replaced by {(1) over bar 0 2} as soon as the supersaturation exceeds about 2%. The {1 1 (1) over bar} form which has a very low F character according to the PBC theory was never observed. In addition, the experimental {1 0 0} form is more developed than expected from the PBC analysis, showing the strong influence of the solvent adsorption on the carboxylic groups which emerge on the faces of {1 0 0}.