Glossary
Polymorphism; Basic principles and characterization methods

Crystalline polymorphism; crystalline polymorphism

Crystalline polymorphism is the ability of a given molecule to exist in the solid state, in the same primary structure, in different crystalline forms with the same physicochemical characteristics in solution, melt and vapor.

Allotropy; allotropy

Allotropy is the ability of simple bodies to crystallize in different forms. Carbon, for example, exists in three natural crystalline forms: graphite, diamond and lonsdaleite.

Gibbs free energy of crystal system; Énergie libre de Gibbs G d'un système cristallin

If a molecule can crystallize in i different forms, each will be characterized, at a temperature T and pressure p, by a Gibbs free energy G _i which will be different for...