Allotropy

Allotropy is the behaviour exhibited by elements. What it means is that the same element can exist in differnet forms. The atoms in these elements are bonded together in different patterns which cause them element to have different charateristics from each other. One example would be carbon atoms which can exist in two different forms which are diamond and carbon. Diamond is the harsdest substance in the world while carbon is one the softest substance in the world. The reason behind this is due to way they are bonded. The carbon atoms in pencil lead are bonded in a way such that there are layers and layers of carbon atoms above one another. After pressing and dragging it, we will get a black mark on the paper, this is why pencil lead is made of carbon. On the other hand, the carbon atoms in diamond are bonded together with each atom connected to at least three other atoms. This forms a shape in which one atom seems to be protected by many others. This allows diamond to become the hardest substance in the world. One more example of allotropy would be oxygen paticles. Two oxygen particles formed together would give us the oxygen that everybody is familiar of and three oxygen paricles would form ozone the gas that protects the Earth from harmful UV rays of the sun. These are some examples allotropy.