Allotropes of carbon Flashcards
What are allotropes?
different structural forms of the same element in the same physical state
Describe diamond
a giant covalent structure, made up of carbon atoms that each form 4 covalent bonds, making it really hard
Would the melting point be high or low for diamond?
Very high because of the stronge covalent bonds
Does diamond conduct electricity?
No because there are no free electrons or ions
How many covalent bonds does each carbon have in graphite
Three
How is graphite structured?
layers of carbon atoms arranged in hexagons but no covalent bonds between the layers,
Can graphite conduct electricity?
Only three of the four electrons on carbons outer shell are used in bonds, so there is one free (delocalized) electron therefore graphite conducts electricity and thermal energy.
What is one layer of graphite called?
Graphene
Because graphene is one cell thick what is it called?
A two-dimensional compound
Why is graphene useful?
Because it is strong and incredibly light it can be added to composite materials to improve their strength without adding much weight.
Why can graphene be used in electronics?
It also contains delocalised electrons
What are fullerenes?
molecules of carbon shaped like closed tubes of hollow balls. Carbon atoms arranged in hexagons, pentagons and heptagons.
Whats the buckminsterfullerene?
First fullerene to be discovered Its got the molecula formula C60 and forms a hollow sphere
What is the molecula formula for the buckminsterfullerene?
C60
What is a use of the buckminsterfullerene?
used to ‘cage’ other molecules. This could be used to deliver a drug to the body
