Polymorphism in Molecular Crystals

Polymorphism — the multiplicity of structures or forms — is a term used in many disciplines. In chemistry, it refers to the existence of more than one crystal structure for a particular chemical substance. The properties of a substance are determined by its composition and by its structure. In the last three decades there has been a sharp rise in the interest in polymorphic systems, as an intrinsically interesting phenomenon and as an increasingly important component in the development and marketing of a variety of materials based on organic molecules (e.g., pharmaceuticals, dyes, pigments, explosives, etc.). This book summarizes and brings up to date (as of 2002) the current knowledge and understanding of…