Carbon exists in different forms called allotropes. Diamond, the hardest natural substance with a high melting and boiling point, and graphite, a conductor of electricity, are two allotropes of carbon.
Describe the different forms of carbon mentioned in the passage and their respective properties.
Share
Carbon exists in diverse forms with distinct properties. Diamond, composed of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms, is exceptionally hard and a poor conductor of electricity. Graphite, with hexagonal layers held by weak forces, is a solid lubricant and conducts electricity. Graphene, a single layer of hexagonally arranged carbon atoms, exhibits remarkable electrical conductivity and strength. Carbon nanotubes, cylindrical structures made of rolled-up graphene sheets, possess excellent electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Fullerenes, spherical carbon molecules like buckyballs (C60), have unique properties and applications in medicine and materials science. This diversity stems from variations in carbon bonding and structure.