Allotropes: Definition, Examples, and Practice
The topic of allotropes comes up frequently in chemistry. In this video we’ll define the term allotrope, look at examples, and then practice so we can easily recognize allotropes.
Here is the formal definition for allotropes:
Allotropes are different structural forms of the same element in the same physical state.
For example, O2 (g) and O3 (g) are allotropes. They are both made up of only Oxygen atoms, both are gases, but they have different structural formulas.
Something like H2O (l) and H2O2 (l) would not be considered allotropes. This is because H2O is made up of more than one type of element. The same reasoning applies to H2O2.
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Images:
Allotropes of Carbon: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...
Allotropes of Iron:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...