the existence of an element in two or more physical forms. The most common elements having this property are carbon, sulphur, and phosphorus
Derived forms
allotropic (ˌæləˈtrɒpɪk)
adjective
allotropically (ˌalloˈtropically)
adverb
allotropy in American English
(əˈlɑtrəpi)
noun
the property that certain chemical elements and compounds have of existing in two or more different forms, as carbon in the form of charcoal, diamond, lampblack, etc.
: also alˈlotroˌpism
Word origin
< Gr allotropos, of or in another manner < allos, other + tropos, way, turn: see trope