The element carbon is found naturally in several forms. What are some of these forms?
1 Answer
May 16, 2017
There are 4 major carbon allotropes:
Explanation:
There are 4 major carbon allotropes:
- Diamond - Is a macromolecule, of tetrahedrally arranged,
#sp^3# -hybridized carbon atoms - Graphene - is a planar macromolecule, in which carbons are
#sp^2# -hybridized and arranged in a trigonal planar fashion - Graphite - is a group of graphene molecules layered one over the other and held together by weak intermolecular forces. (Look at the pencil you may be holding in your hand; what you write with is essentially graphite)
- Fullerenes :
a.#C_60# (a.k.a. Buckminster or Bucky balls) - consists of 60#sp^2# -hybridized carbon atoms that are arranged in pentagons
and hexagons, to form at sphere
b. Carbon nanotubes - these essentially look like rolled up graphene sheets, that form a tube.
Note, that there are many more. But this is a sample of some of the most common, and/or most interesting
