Name: Uses of Metallic and Non-metallic Oxides
Uploaded: 2019-07-19
Duration: 3 min 59 s
Description: Do you know how milk of magnesia acts as an antacid? See how acid neutralisation occurs in your tummy. Also, learn how different oxides of metals and non-met...

Question

Differentiate between the following : Diamond, graphite and fullerene

Accepted Answer

Diamond, Graphite and Buckminster fullerene are allotropes of carbon.

Diamond Graphite Buckminster fullerene

In diamond the carbon atoms are covalently bonded to one another producing a three dimensional network solid. Graphite is also made of carbon atoms. Graphite consists of carbon atoms covalently bonded together in a layers made up of hexagons, like chicken wire. Buckminsterfullerene (Bucky ball) is an allotrope of carbon that is produced by firing high powered laser beams at graphite.

Each carbon atom is bonded to four other atoms throughout the crystal lattice. Each carbon atom has three bonds and one free electron. Each molecule consists of a large number of carbon atoms covalently bonded to one another forming a sphere (similar to a soccer ball).

Diamond has no free electrons because they are all involved in bonding and is therefore a poor conductor of electricity. The extra electrons are delocalised and can be moved along the layers by applying an external voltage. This is why graphite can conduct an electric current. They are extremely stable in nature. They are inert. They have aromaticity which means they are stable and inert carbon bonds.

Differentiate between the following : Diamond, graphite and fullerene

Important Questions on The p-Block Elements

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