Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun The existence of two or more crystalline or molecular structural forms of an element that have different chemical or physical attributes.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun The property which certain chemical elements have of existing in two or more distinct forms, each having certain characteristics peculiar to itself.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- noun chemistry A
property , exhibited by someelements of existing in multiple forms with differentatomic structures.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun the phenomenon of an element existing in two or more physical forms
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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The phenomenon of allotropy is exhibited when an element exists in two or more distinct forms.
Natural Kinds Bird, Alexander 2008
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When it then became a question of forming an opinion of the reason for these different states, several people, e.g. the American scientist Lea, had recourse to the concept of allotropy which existed previously in chemistry, and was illustrated by the typical example of phosphorus with its two so-called allotropic modifications, the yellow and the red.
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About a fourth of the hold was similarly constructed, in order to bring back minerals whose allotropy required Jovian surface conditions.
Three Worlds to Conquer Anderson, Poul, 1926- 1964
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About a fourth of the hold was similarly constructed, in order to bring back minerals whose allotropy required Jovian surface conditions.
Three Worlds To Conquer Anderson, Poul, 1926- 1964
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Instances of allotropy in pure metals are: Bolley's lead, which oxidizes readily in air; Schutzenberger's copper; Fritsche 'tin, which falls to powder when exposed to exceptionally cold winter; Gore's antimony; Graham's palladium and allotropic nickel.
Scientific American Supplement, No. 799, April 25, 1891 Various
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There seems to be a similar allotropy working in human nature.
Craftsmanship in Teaching William Chandler Bagley 1910
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But it is evident that this is but one of many passages where Indra by implication is compared to the sun; and comparisons do not indicate allotropy.
The Religions of India Handbooks on the History of Religions, Volume 1, Edited by Morris Jastrow Edward Washburn Hopkins 1894
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How about thermodynamics, like the phase equilibrium in a binary system containing a eutectic and exhibiting allotropy?
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