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States of Matter & Gas Laws

Polymorphism

The ability of a single substance to exist in more than one crystalline form.

Unit Dimensionless

In depth

Polymorphs differ in lattice arrangement and therefore in density, hardness, solubility and melting point, though their chemical composition is identical. Polymorphism is critically important in pharmaceuticals, where different forms of the same drug can dissolve at very different rates.

Examples in the real world

Calcium carbonate as calcite and aragonite; titanium dioxide as rutile and anatase; the many phases of ice.