A transition which involves a major reorganization of the crystal structure and a change of local topology, during which primary bonds are broken and reformed so that there is no immediate relationship between the crystal structures of the parent and product phases. Examples: The transition of
Mg2SiO4 (olivine) to
Mg2SiO4 (spinel); the transition of
diamond to
graphite.
Source:
PAC, 1994, 66, 577
(Definitions of terms relating to phase transitions of the solid state (IUPAC Recommendations 1994))
on page 589
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.
