allotropes
Graphite is one of three forms of crystalline, or crystal-forming, carbon. Carbon also exists in an amorphous, or shapeless, form in substances such as coal and charcoal. Different forms of the same element are called allotropes. Besides graphite, the other allotropes of crystalline carbon are diamond and fullerenes. All three forms exist as crystals rather than molecules. In a crystal, many atoms are bonded together in a repeating pattern that may contains thousands of atoms. The arrangement of atoms in the crystal differs for each form of carbon and explains why the different forms have different properties. For an entertaining, video-game introduction to the three forms of crystalline carbon, go to this URL: http://www. youtube. com/watch?v=GIHmfBsHsCY .