The crystal structures of the allotropic forms of the elements are presented in terms of the Pearson symbol, the Strukturbericht designation, and the prototype of the structure. The temperatures and pressures of the phase transformations are listed. A consistent nomenclature is used, whereby all allotropes are labeled by Greek letters. The lattice parameters of the units cells are considered to be accurate to ±2 in the last reported digit.
This compilation is restricted to allotopic crystal structures that are the result of a phase change caused by changes in temperature or pressure. Low-temperature structures are included for the diatomic and rare gases, which show many similarities with respect to the metallic elements.
Reprinted with the permission of ASM International from T.Β. Massalski, Ed., Βinary Alloy Phase Diagrams, ASM International, Metals Park, Ohio, 1986; certain data on rare-earth elements were provided by K.A. Gschneidner. Column definitions for the table are as follows.
Column heading | Definition |
Element | Name of the element |
Allotrope | The atomic symbol and phase for the element; allotropes are listed alphabetically with respect to the atomic symbol, then by the Greek letter designation of the allotrope |
t | Temperature of phase transformation, in °C |
p | Pressure at which phase transformation occurs, in GPa |
Pearson symbol | Pearson symbol for the crystal structure; “?” for entry indicates Pearson symbol is uncertain |
Space group | Space group for the crystal structure; “?” for entry indicates space group is uncertain |
Stukturbericht designation | Strukturbericht for the crystal structure |
Prototype | Prototype of the crystal structure |
a | Lattice parameter a for the allotrope, in nm |
b | Lattice parameter b for the allotrope, in nm |
c | Lattice parameter c for the allotrope, in nm |
Element | Allotrope | t/°C | p/GPa | Pearson symbol | Space group | Strukturbericht designation | Prototype | a/nm | b/nm | c/nm |
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Actinium | Ac | 25 | atm | cF4 | Fm3m | Al | Cu | 0.5311 | ||
Silver | Ag | 25 | atm | cF4 | Fm3m | A1 | Cu | 0.40857 | ||
Aluminum | αAl | 25 | atm | cF4 | Fm3m | A1 | Cu | 0.40496 | ||
Aluminum | βAl | 25 | >20.5 | hP2 | P63/mmc | A3 | Mg | 0.2693 | 0.4398 | |
Americium | α´Am | 25 | atm | hP4 | P63/mmc | A3´ | αLa | 0.34681 | 1.1241 | |
Americium | αAm | >769 | atm | cF4 | Fm3m | A1 | Cu | 0.4894 | ||
Americium | βAm | >1074 | atm | cI2 | Im3m | A2 | W | ? | ||
Americium | γAm | 25 | >15 | oC4 | Cmcm | A20 | αU | 0.3063 | 0.5968 | 0.5169 |
Argon | αAr | <-189.35 | atm | cF4 | Fm3m | A1 | Cu | 0.5316 | ||
Argon | (βAr) | <-189.40 | atm | hP2 | P63/mmc | A3 | Mg | 0.3760 | 0.6141 | |
Arsenic (gray) | αAs | 25 | atm | hR2 | R3m | A7 | αAs | 0.41319 | ||
Arsenic | єAs | >448 | atm | oC8 | Cmca | … | P (black) | 0.362 | 1.085 | 0.448 |
Gold | Au | 25 | atm | cF4 | Fm3m | A1 | Cu | 0.40782 | ||
Boron | βΒ | 25 | atm | hR105 | R3m | … | βΒ | 1.017 | ||
Barium | αΒa | 25 | atm | cI2 | Im3m | A2 | W | 0.50227 | ||
Barium | βΒa | 25 | >5.33 | hP2 | P63/mmc | A3 | Mg | 0.3901 | 0.6154 | |
Barium | γΒa | 25 | >23 | ? | ? | … | … | |||
Beryllium | αΒe | 25 | atm | hP2 | P63/mmc | A3 | Mg | 0.22859 | 0.35845 | |
Beryllium | βΒe | >1270 | atm | cI2 | Im3m | A2 | W | 0.25515 |