Allotropes of carbon

Question 1

What are allotropes?

Answer 1

Different forms of an element in the same physical state

Question 2

Mention an example of allotrope

Answer 2

Carbon:
Diamond
Graphite
Graphene
Fullerenes

Question 3

Describe the structure and properties of a ‘diamond’

Answer 3

Structure
- Their carbons are bonded to 4 other
carbons
- Regular repeating lattice

Properties
- They are strong
- High melting and boiling points
- Cannot conduct electricity

Question 4

Describe the structure and properties of a ‘graphite’

Answer 4

Structure
- Their carbons are bonded to 3 other
carbons
- Made of layers of graphene

Properties
- They are soft and slippery
- They can slide over each other
- High melting and boiling points
- Can conduct electricity

Question 5

Mention a use of ‘fullerene’

Answer 5

Can be used to transport drugs around the body

Question 6

Why does diamond have High melting and boiling points?

Answer 6

Strong covalent bonds which require lots of energy to overcome

Question 7

Why can graphite conduct electricity?

Answer 7

They have delocalised electrons to carry charge, because of the extra carbon not bonded

Question 8

Why does graphite have a High melting and boiling point even when the layers are held together weakly?

Answer 8

The layers themselves have strong covalent bonds which require lots of enegy to overcome