Page 10 - Cosmos Edition 3

ALLOTROPES OF CARBON

ALLOTROPES 

When an element exists in more than one crystalline form, those forms
are called allotropes.

Carbon with atomic number 6 and represented by the symbol ‘C’ in the periodic table is
one of the most influential elements we see around us.
Allotropic of carbon can be either amorphous or crystalline. Let us take a look into more
widely known allotropes of carbon is graphite, diamond and recently discovered fuller-
enes.
Allotropes have same molecular formula but due to different arrangement of atoms they

GRAPHITE DIAMOND FULLERENE

STRUCTURE— STRUCTURE-- STRUCTURE—
Graphite has a unique hon- In this each carbon forms a co- There are number fullerenes. But one of
ey comb structure. Each valent bond with a four other well-known fullerene is Buckminster full-
layer composed of planar carbon atoms at the corners of erene which is cage like structure due to
hexagonal rings of carbon the tetrahedron. which it looks like a football.
atoms. These layers are
held together by vander
waal forces. PROPERTIES—
The 3-dimensional spherical fullerene mol-
PROPERTIES- PROPERTIES- ecule has unique physical and chemical
It is a soft black slippery It is hard and brilliant shining properties .so they can act as a semicon-
solid. property. ductor, conductor and superconductor
under certain specific condition.

USES-
USES— It is used as a catalyst in water purifica-
It mixed with clay and used USES— tion, biohazard protection, potable water,
in Lead pencils. Diamonds are used to make pre- vehicles and medical.
Since it is good conductor cious jewelry. It is used as nanotubes.
of electricity and is inert it It is also used as a tool for cut-
is used for making carbon ting glass because of its hard-
electrodes in electrolytic ness.
cell.

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