allotropy
Same element, different structures
Allotropy is the existence of an element in two or more distinct physical forms.
Carbon exhibits allotropy: diamond, graphite, and fullerene are all pure carbon arranged differently.
Oxygen and ozone are allotropes, as are white and red phosphorus.
The adjective is allotropic: allotropic forms of sulfur.
Crystallized carbon gemstone
- graphiteCrystalline carbon allotrope
- fullereneCage-shaped carbon allotrope
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
- buckyballSpherical carbon allotrope
nanotube · amorphous · charcoal · lonsdaleite · buckminsterfullerene · carbonado · soot · tetrahedral
Yellow combustible element
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- tinElement fifty, Sn
- seleniumElement number thirty-four
boron · silicon · arsenic · antimony · germanium · tellurium · polonium · iron
Many forms, one interface
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- metastableStable but not permanently
- thermodynamicOf heat-energy science
- solid-stateUsing semiconductors, not tubes
trigonal · cubic · symmetry · crystalline · modification · polymorph · transformation · stability
Resistance to penetration
- conductivityAbility to carry current
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
- colorVisual hue property
- reactivityTendency to chemically combine
transparency · opacity · brittleness · luster · anisotropy · refractoriness · sublimation
diamond
Crystallized carbon gemstone
- graphiteCrystalline carbon allotrope
- fullereneCage-shaped carbon allotrope
- grapheneMonolayer carbon hexagonal lattice
buckyball · nanotube · amorphous · charcoal · lonsdaleite · buckminsterfullerene · carbonado · soot · tetrahedral · hexagonal
sulfur
Yellow combustible element
- phosphorusGlow-in-dark element
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
- tinElement fifty, Sn
selenium · boron · silicon · arsenic · antimony · germanium · tellurium · polonium · iron · ozone
polymorphism
Many forms, one interface
- latticeOpenwork of crossed strips
- metastableStable but not permanently
- thermodynamicOf heat-energy science
solid-state · trigonal · cubic · symmetry · crystalline · modification · polymorph · transformation · stability · equilibrium
hardness
Resistance to penetration
- conductivityAbility to carry current
- densityMass-to-volume ratio
- colorVisual hue property
reactivity · transparency · opacity · brittleness · luster · anisotropy · refractoriness · sublimation
- crystallographycrystal structure, crystal systems, crystal growth, dislocations, crystallization
- phase changesphase transition, phase change, sublimation, solidification, liquefaction