A transition of a pure element, at a defined temperature and pressure, from one crystal structure to another which contains the same atoms but which has different properties. Examples: The transition of
graphite to
diamond, that of body-centred-cubic iron to face-centred-cubic iron, and the transition of orthorhombic sulfur to monoclinic sulfur. Synonymous with allotriomorphic transition.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 577
(Definitions of terms relating to phase transitions of the solid state (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 579
Cite as:
IUPAC. Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. (the "Gold Book"). Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford (1997). XML on-line corrected version: http://goldbook.iupac.org (2006-) created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN 0-9678550-9-8.
doi:10.1351/goldbook.
