CARBON LATTICES &

CARBON
NANOMATERIALS
CHAPTER 8
 CARBON LATTICES
CARBON:
 Vital component of all living systems
 11th most abundant element
 3 isotopes – 12C (98.9%), 13C (1.1%) & 14C (traces)
 Has one of the highest melting points of any element
 Sublimes at temperatures above 3550oC
 Some forms conduct electricity
 Forms single, double or triple covalent bonds
 Forms large molecules and lattice structures with itself
 ALLOTROPES OF CARBON
 ALLOTROPES – different forms of the same
element
 DIAMOND
 Covalent network lattice
 No weak covalent bonds but bonds strongly
with four other C atoms
 Hence makes diamond extremely hard
DIAMOND
 Single covalent bonds between C atoms are strong
 Continuous tetrahedral network lattice with each C
atom bonded to four other C atoms
 Rigid structure, hence brittle, so breaks can’t bend
 No small molecules, so no weak forces, hence
make sublimation point very high – about 3550oC
 Because held together very strongly, thermal
conductivity is extremely high
 Does not conduct electricity because all four
electrons used in covalent bonds
 GRAPHITE
 Covalent layer lattice
 Each C atom is covalently bonded to 3 other C atoms leaving
one delocalised electron that can move between the layers
 Strong covalent bonding within layer, but weak dispersion
forces between layers
 The fourth valence electron moves between the layers, hence
electrically conductive
 Sublimes at 3600oC
AMORPHOUS FORMS OF
CARBON
 Carbon black and charcoal are examples of
AMORPHOUS CARBON
 Irregularly packed tiny crystals of graphite and
other non-uniform arrangement
 Carbon black – refined to make particle uniform
and used in printers.
 Charcoal – used as fuel
 Activated charcoal – made by heating, can adsorb
impurities on its porous surface (uses as water
filters, odour eaters, drug overdose)
AMORPHOUS FORMS OF
CARBON
KEY QUESTIONS p 183
 QUESTIONS 1-4

 Worksheet 19 – first two columns

 Education Perfect activities for Carbon

CARBON NANOMATERIALS

 CARBON NANOMATERIALS – another

type of allotrope
 Three types – FULLERENES & GRAPHENE
& NANOTUBES
 FULLERENES
 Made up of molecules containing a roughly spherical
group of C atoms arranged in a series of HEXAGONS &
PENTAGONS
 Another variation is the BUCKYBALL
 Have three covalent bonds to each C atom and in
some ways appears similar to graphite.
 Leaves delocalised electrons and possibility of
electrical conductivity
 Most stable fullerene molecules involves 60 C atoms
in an approximate spherical shape.
 Called buckminsterfullerene or C60.
GRAPHENE & NANOTUBES
GRAPHENE
 Best described as a single layer of graphite
 Still electrically conductive
 Extremely strong and tough material
USES
 Replace Si in computer chips and circuits
 Desalination plants
 Electrodes
 Organic photovoltaic cells
 Reinforce composite materials
GRAPHENE & NANOTUBES
NANOTUBES
 Closely related to graphene
 Called nanotubes due to long hollow structure with
walls formed from graphene
 Diameters of cylinders are very small, 1 nanometre
wide, but can be millions of times longer
 Can be single-walled or multi-walled
INTEREST
 Unique strength
 Electrical and thermal conductivity
 Strong forces of attraction to each other
KEY QUESTIONS p 188
 Worksheet 19 – second two columns

 QUESTIONS 1-4

 Education Perfect activities for

Carbon
REVIEW QUESTIONS p 189 & 190

 QUESTIONS 1- 11