We present several applications of quantum amplitude amplification to finding claws and collisions in ordered or unordered functions. Our algorithms generalize those of Brassard, Høyer, and Tapp, and imply an Ç´Æ¿ ÐÓ Æµ quantum upper bound for the element distinctness problem in the comparison complexity model. This contrasts with ¢´Æ ÐÓ Æµ classical complexity. We also prove a lower bound of ª´ Ô Æµ comparisons for this problem and derive bounds for a number of related problems.