Allotropes of Carbon (pg 118) Flashcards
What are Allotropes?
they are different structural forms of the same element in the same physical state.
(carbon got lots)
see diagram on page 118
What is Diamond made up of?
Diamond has a giant covalent structure, made up of carbon atoms, made up of four covalent bonds
why is Diamond really hard?
its hard as it is made up of carbon atoms that each form four covalent bonds. This makes it very hard
The strong covalent bonds take a lot of energy to break and give diamond a very high melting point.
Why doesn’t diamond conduct electricity?
because it has no free electrons or ions
Graphite contains sheets of what shape?
Hexagons
see diagram on page 118
In graphite each carbon atom only forms three covalent bonds, what do this create?
they create sheets of carbon atoms arranged in hexagons
Are there any covalent bonds between the hexagon layers of Graphite?
No. they are held together weakly, or they’re free to move over each other.
This makes Graphite soft and slippery, so it’s ideal as a lubricating material.
Has Graphite got a high melting point and why?
Yes has a high melting point - the covalent bonds in the layers need loads of energy to break.
How many carbon’s four outer electrons are used in bonds, in graphite?
Three out of four outer electrons are used in bonds, so each carbon atom has one electron that’s delocalised (free) and can move. So graphie conducts electricity and thermal energy
What is Graphene?
it is ONE layer of Graphite
It is a sheet of carbon atoms joined together in hexagons.
The sheet is just ONE atom thick, making it a two-dimentional substance
The network of covalent bonds makes it very strong. It also incredibly light, so can be added to composite materials to improve the strength without adding much weight.
(see diagram)
Do Graphene contain delocalised (free) electrons, and what do this mean?
Yes it contains delocalised electrons, (like Graphite), so can conduct electricity through the whole structure.
This mean it has the potential to be used in electronics
What are Fullerenes?
Fullerenes are molecules of carbon, shaped like closed tubes or hollow balls.
They’re mainly made up of carbon atoms arranged in hexagons, but can also contain pentagons (rings of five carbon atoms) or heptagons (rings of seven carbon atoms).
see diagrame on page 118
What are Fullerenes used for?
they can be used to cage other molecules. The fullerene structure forms around another atom or molecule, which is then trapped inside.
This could be used to deliver a drug into the body
Describe how Fullerenes could help make great industrial catalysts?
They have a huge surface area, so they could help make great industrial catalysts -
individual catalyst molecules could be attached to the fullerenes.
Fullerenes also make great lubricants.
Fullerenes can form nanotubes, what are these?
nanotubes are tiny carbon cylinders.
the ratio between the length and the diameter of a nanotube is very high.
see diagram page 118