Definition

A characteristic of a substance that can exist in different forms or structures, especially in terms of its crystal arrangement.

Example

The allomorphism of the mineral allowed it to exist in different crystal structures depending on the conditions.

Conversation

I was reading about allomorphism in my chemistry book today.

Oh really? What's that about?

It's about compounds that can have different crystalline forms.

That sounds interesting! I didn't know that compounds could do that.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Allomorphism → It is formed from "allo-" (from Greek "allos", meaning other or different) and "morphe" (meaning form or shape). The word refers to the existence of different forms or variations of a substance or entity.

Memory Tip

Think of 'other' ('allo-') forms or shapes ('morphe') to remember that allomorphism refers to different forms of the same substance.

Visually Confused Words