Week 4 part 2

Question 1

What is an allotrope?

Answer 1

• Different structural forms of the same element in the same physical state.

Question 2

What are the properties of diamond?

Answer 2

• Really hard
• The covalent bonds take a lot of energy to break so the melting point of diamond is very high.
• Doesn’t conduct electricity because there are no free moving electrons or ions.

Question 3

What are the properties of graphite?

Answer 3

• Sheets of carbon atoms arranged in hexagons
• The bonds between the layers is weak (not covalent). They can move over each other
• Graphite is soft and slippery so it’s ideal for lubricating material.
• High melting point because the covalent bonds need lots of energy to break
• Graphite can conduct electricity

Question 4

What are the properties of graphene?

Answer 4

• A sheet of graphite without the other hexagonal layers
• It is one atom thick so it is 2 dimensional
• Extremely strong
• Light weight
• Can conduct electricity

Question 5

What is a fullerene?

Answer 5

• Molecules of carbon
• Shaped like tubes or hollow balls
• Mainly arranged in hexagons, but may contain pentagons or heptagons
• Can be used to deliver drugs to the body (buckminster fullerene).
• Have huge surface areas so can be used as catalysts

Question 6

What is a nanotube?

Answer 6

• Tube
• High L:D
• Can conduct electricity and heat
• High tensile strength
• Can be used in electronics or to strengthen materials

Question 7

What is a buckminsterfullerene?

Answer 7

The first fullerene to be discovered. It has the molecular formula C60 and forms a hollow sphere.