Allotropes Diamond has a

tetrahedral structure.

of carbon
Each carbon atom is
connected to four other
carbon atoms by a Buckminsterfullerene’s
covalent bond to form a spherical structure
giant crystal lattice. comprises 60 carbon atoms
arranged as 10 hexagons and
12 pentagons.
The same shape as a
football – which is why C60
is also sometimes called a
buckyball.
Some elements are
able to exist in different DIAMOND
structural forms, known Used for ... FULLERENES
as allotropes. Carbon  drill bits in oil exploration and for
slicing through concrete Until 1985 it was thought there were only two
does this very well  jewellery: naturally-made allotropes of carbon: diamond and graphite.
diamonds are of higher purity and But scientists thought they had detected the
because of its ability to very expensive! presence of another form of carbon in space.
form bonds with other Because ... That mysterious new allotrope is C60, or
buckminsterfullerene. Other fullerenes exist
 of its tetrahedral structure,
neighbouring carbon diamond is one of the hardest too, like C70, as well as ellipsoids and tubes.

atoms – something known materials Used for ...

 it has a high refractive index, light  drug delivery potentially – many
called catenation. The is reflected internally, so it sparkles researchers are currently working on this

4027°C
 all its electrons are used to create
way in which carbon the bonding lattice, leaving none
Because ...
 buckminsterfullerene’s intermolecular
spare, it’s a poor conductor
atoms are connected of electricity
forces are weak, its melting point is low
 fullerenes have a sea of free electrons
to each other makes Diamond’s sublimation point. It’s so
inside, they can conduct electricity

1985
a big difference to the hard to change into a gas because of its
tetrahedral structure.
physical, chemical and
electronic properties
of the material. Each carbon atom is
A team headed by Professor Sir Harry GRAPHENE

3600°C
Kroto discovered and named C60, or
covalently bonded to three
buckminsterfullerene. Graphene was a theoretical concept before
others, leaving one electron
it was isolated and studied in 2004 by
GRAPHITE
spare. This results in atoms
arranged in flat layers of Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov at
hexagons, between which is the University of Manchester. They were
Graphite’s sublimation a soup of free, delocalised Think of graphene as a awarded the Nobel prize in physics in 2010
Used for ... point. That’s how much
electrons made up of the single layer extracted for their discovery. It’s the thinnest, lightest,
 pencil leads energy it takes to break
spare electrons. from graphite. In its strongest, most stretchy material we’ve ever
 nuclear reactor cores, to stop or its covalent bonds. hexagonal lattice, each created.
slow the nuclear reaction carbon atom is bonded
Used for ...
Words by Ian Farrell. All illustrations © Dan Bright

with three others,

Because ... leaving a spare electron.  solar cells that are both transparent and
 its layer-like structure makes it soft flexible
and flaky, as a pencil it leaves marks on  smart windows that can control heat and
your paper light transmittance

1g
 so much energy is needed to break  electronic displays
the covalent bonds, graphite is tough Because ...
enough to be used in a nuclear reactor  of its spare electrons, graphene is an
 of its soup of spare electrons, it is a excellent conductor of electricity and heat
very good conductor of electricity

A single sheet of graphene

the size of a football pitch
would weigh less than 1 g!

Download this
© Dan Bright

Poster, fact sheet and activity

for age range 14–16 from the
Education in Chemistry website:
rsc.li/3oDkjDa