​ ALLOTROPES OF CARBON 

 
Allotropes are basically different forms of the same element. Here, allotropes of
carbon are to be discussed. Carbon has got many allotropes including diamond,
graphite, and many forms of fullerene, etcetera.

1) Diamond​ is a form of pure carbon. Each carbon atom has 4 electrons in its
outer shell and it therefore forms four covalent bonds. In diamond, each carbon
bonds strongly to four other carbon atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement.

This is a giant covalent structure; it continues on and on in three dimensions. It’s

not a molecule because the number of atoms joined up in a real diamond is
completely variable and depends on the size of the crystal. Molecules always
contain fixed numbers of atoms joined by covalent bonds. Diamond is very hard
and has very high melting and boiling points, because a lot of energy is required
to break the strong covalent bonds in the giant lattice. Drill bits can be tipped
with diamonds for drills used on stone and rocks. Diamond doesn’t dissolve in
water or any other solvent, and the reason is the same again! Diamond is an
electrical insulator as all the valence electrons are tightly held in covalent bonds
between the atoms. None are free to carry the charge. Instead, diamond is one
of the best conductors of heat. As one end of the crystal is heated the atoms
vibrate more. The strong bond throughout the giant structure means that these
vibrations are quickly transmitted from one end of the crystal to the other.

2) Graphite ​is also a form of carbon, but the atoms have a different arrangement.
Although it has a giant structure, graphite is layer-shaped. You can represent
graphite’s shape like a stack of cards- in a pack of cards each card is strong but
an individual card can be separated easily. This is the case for graphite.

The layers slide over each other and can be easily taken off, thus graphite is a
soft material. Graphite is used in pencils after it’s mixed with clay to make it
harder. When we write, we leave trails of graphite layers on the paper. Pure
graphite is so slippery that it’s used as a dry lubricant. (e.g.; powdered graphite is
used to lubricate locks.) Graphite is insoluble, and also has high melting and
boiling points, because the covalent bonds between each carbon atom is very
strong and breaking only the layers won’t do the job. Graphite, unlike diamond, is
a conductor of electricity, as each carbon atom is joined to three others. Each
carbon atom uses three of its valence electrons to form three single covalent
bonds. The fourth electron in the outer shell of each carbon atom is free to move
around and carry the charge and thus are called delocalised electrons. The
movement of these electrons throughout the layers allows graphite to conduct
electricity.

3) C₆₀ Fullerene ​is another allotrope of carbon. Unlike graphite and diamond, it
has a simple molecular structure. It has much lower melting and boiling points
than graphite and diamond as the weak intermolecular forces of attraction have
to be broken which doesn’t require as much energy as it’s required to break the
covalent bonds in diamond and graphite.
C₆₀ fullerene doesn’t conduct electricity. Although all the carbon atoms only form
three bonds, the fourth electron can only move within each molecule; they can’t
jump from one molecule to another, thus C₆₀ fullerene can’t conduct electricity.
Fullerenes (C₆₀) and their derivatives have potential antiviral activity, which has
strong implications on the treatment of HIV-infection. The antiviral activity of
fullerene derivatives is based on several biological properties including their
unique molecular architecture and antioxidant activity.

4) C₇₀ fullerene​ is the fullerene molecule consisting of 70 carbon atoms. It is a

cage-like fused-ring structure which is made up of 25 hexagons and 12
pentagons, with a carbon atom at the vertices of each polygon and a bond along
each polygon edge.

Fullerenes are sparingly soluble in many aromatic solvents such as toluene and
others like carbon disulfide, but not in water. Solutions of C₇₀ are a reddish
brown. Millimeter-sized crystals of C₇₀ can be grown from solution. This insoluble
allotrope of carbon is used as catalysts, in water purification and biohazard
protection, portable power, vehicles and medical.

Sources​: ​C70 fullerene​, h

​ ttps://www.google.com/​ (images from google were
collected randomly)