• Question: what is allotropy?

    Asked by the kings to Dorcas, Priscilla on 23 Sep 2014.
    • Photo: Dorcas Kamuya

      Dorcas Kamuya answered on 23 Sep 2014:

      Hi Kings,
      Allotropy is the property of some chemical elements to exist in more than one form because of different structural arrangements of their atoms. E.g, in solid state carbon, can exist as as diamond, graphite and so one. Oxygen also has allotropes in different states; it exits as dioxide (O2) in solid state and as ozone (O3) in gaseous state. Note that compounds – a combination of more than one chemical element – are not allotropes.
      Do you know other chemical elements that have allotropes?
      Dorcas

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