Carbon exists in several allotropic forms including crystalline and amorphous forms. The four main crystalline allotropes are diamond, graphite, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes. Diamond has a tetrahedral crystal structure and is extremely hard. Graphite has a layered structure and is soft. Fullerenes have spheroidal molecules and carbon nanotubes have cylindrical structures. Each allotrope has distinct bonding structures and physical properties.
Carbon exists in several allotropic forms including crystalline and amorphous forms. The four main crystalline allotropes are diamond, graphite, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes. Diamond has a tetrahedral crystal structure and is extremely hard. Graphite has a layered structure and is soft. Fullerenes have spheroidal molecules and carbon nanotubes have cylindrical structures. Each allotrope has distinct bonding structures and physical properties.
Carbon exists in several allotropic forms including crystalline and amorphous forms. The four main crystalline allotropes are diamond, graphite, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes. Diamond has a tetrahedral crystal structure and is extremely hard. Graphite has a layered structure and is soft. Fullerenes have spheroidal molecules and carbon nanotubes have cylindrical structures. Each allotrope has distinct bonding structures and physical properties.
Carbon exists in several allotropic forms including crystalline and amorphous forms. The four main crystalline allotropes are diamond, graphite, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes. Diamond has a tetrahedral crystal structure and is extremely hard. Graphite has a layered structure and is soft. Fullerenes have spheroidal molecules and carbon nanotubes have cylindrical structures. Each allotrope has distinct bonding structures and physical properties.
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Allotropes Of Carbon
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. Carbon is one of the elements which shows allotropy. Allotropic of carbon can be either amorphous or crystalline. Carbon due to its capability of having variable oxidation states and/or coordination number makes carbon one of the few elements to have multiple numbers of allotropic forms. Carbons ability to catenate is another contributing factor. Allotropes of carbon:
Diamond – an extremely hard, transparent crystal, with the
carbon atoms arranged in a tetrahedral lattice. A poor electrical conductor. An excellent thermal conductor. Lonsdaleite – also called hexagonal diamond. Graphene – is the basic structural element of other allotropes, nanotubes, charcoal, and fullerenes. Q-carbon – a ferromagnetic, tough, and brilliant crystal structure that is harder and brighter than diamonds. Graphite – a soft, black, flaky solid, a moderate electrical conductor. The C atoms are bonded in flat hexagonal lattices (graphene), which are then layered in sheets. Linear acetylenic carbon (Carbyne) Amorphous carbon Fullerenes, including Buckminsterfullerene, a.k.a. “buckyballs”, such as C60. Carbon nanotubes – allotropes of carbon with a cylindrical nanostructure.
Let us take a look into the more widely known allotropes of Carbon, Graphite, and Diamond. Allotropes Of Carbon
Mrs Shilpi Nagpal December 23, 2017 0
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The phenomenon of existence of an element in two or more
forms which have different physical properties but identical chemical properties is calledallotropy and the different forms are called allotropes.
Carbon exists in 2 allotropic forms:
1) Crystalline
2) Amorphous
Crystalline form of carbon:
4 allotropes of carbon having well defined crystal structure
are:
1) Diamond
2) Graphite
3) Fullerenes 4) Carbon Nanotubes
Diamond
It can also be prepared artificially but because of the high
cost and poor quality, diamonds are seldom made artifically.
Structure
In diamond , carbon is sp3– hybridised . Each carbon is
tetrahedrally linked to four neighbouring carbon atoms through four strong C-C , sp3– sp3 , σ bonds. This network extends in three dimensional and is very rigid.
Properties
1) Purity: Diamond is the purest form of carbon.
2) Bond Length : Because of sp3– hybridisation , C-C bond lengths in diamond are 1.54 A°
3) Hardness : Since diamond exists as a three- dimensional
network solid, it is the hardest substance known with high density and melting point.
4) Conductivity : Since all the electrons are firmly held in C-
C , σ bonds , there are no free electrons in a diamond crystal.Therefore diamond is a bad conductor of electricity. It has the highest thermal conductivity.
5) Transparency: Because of high refractive index ,
diamond can reflect and refract light. It is therefore, a transparent substance.
Uses
1) It is used for cutting glass , making borers for rock drilling
and for making abrasives.
2) When diamond is cut and polished, brilliant light is
refracted from its surfaces. That is why diamond is used for making precious gems and jewellery.
3) It is used for grinding and polishing of hard material.
4) It is also used for making dies for drawing thin wires from metals.
Graphite
It occurs in nature and can also be manufactured artificially
by heating coke to 3273-3300 K in an electric furnace.
Structure
1) In graphite , carbon is sp2- hybridised. Each carbon is
linked to three other carbon atoms forming hexagonal rings.
2) Graphite has a two-dimensional sheet like structure
consisting of a number of benzene rings fused together. 3) The various sheets or layers are held together by weak van der waals forces of attraction.The distance between any two successive layers is 3.40 A.
Properties
1) Purity : Graphite is also the purest form of carbon.
2) Bond length: Because of sp2– hybridisation , the C-C
bond length in graphite are 1.41 A°.
3) Softness : Since any 2 successive layers are held
together by weak forces of attractive , one layer can slip over the other.This makes graphite soft and a good lubricating agent.
4) Conductivity: Since only three electrons of each carbon
are used in making hexagonal rings in graphite, fourth valence electron of each carbon is free to move. This makes graphite a good conductor of heat and electricity.
Its thermal conductivity is lower than that of
diamond.Thermal conduction is due to transfer of thermal vibrations from one atom to the other which is easier in a compact crystal of diamond than in layered structure of graphite. 5) Opaqueness:
Graphite is a black substance and possesses a metallic lustre.
Uses
1) It is used as a reducing agent in steel manufacturing.
2) It is also used in high-strength composite material.
3) It is used for making electrodes for dry cell.
4) It marks paper black and is therefore called black lead.It
is used for making cores of lead pencils.
5) It is used in the manufacture of crucibles which can
withstand high temperature.
6) It is also used as a moderator for fast moving neutrons in
atomic reactors.
7) It is used as a solid lubricant for heavy machinery.
Fullerenes
In 1985 , a third crystalline allotrope of carbon called
fullerenes was discovered.
Preparation 1) Fullerenes constitute a new family of carbon allotropes consisting of large spheroidal molecule of composition C2n.These were first prepared by evaporation of graphite using a powerful laser.
2) By heating of graphite in an electric arc in an inert gas
such as helium or argon when a sooty material is formed by the condensation of Cn small molecules.The sooty material so formed mainly consist of C60 fullerene with smaller quantity of C70 and traces of other fullerenes.The C60 and C70fullerenes can be readily separated from the fullerene soot by extraction with benzene or toluene followed by chromatography over alumina.
