Page 202 - ICSE Chemistry 8

Since there are 60 carbon atoms in a molecule of
Thirst for Knowledge
buckminsterfullerene, so its formula is C .
60
Buckminsterfullerene is a football-shaped spherical Harry Kroto, Robert Curl and Richard
molecule in which 60 carbon atoms are arranged in Smalley were awarded the Nobel
interlocking hexagonal and pentagonal rings of carbon Prize in chemistry in the year 1996 for
atoms. There are 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons of carbon the discovery of fullerene.
atoms in one molecule of buckminsterfullerene.
This allotrope was named buckminsterfullerene or bucky ball a er the
American architect Buckminster Fuller.

C is only one of a family of fullerenes. A crystal la ce of fullerenes can
60
have about 30 to few hundreds atoms of carbon in a molecule, for example,
C , C , C , C and so on.
32
60
50
84
Fig. 9.6: Buckminsterfullerene
Properties of Buckminsterfullerene
Buckminsterfullerene is a dark solid at room temperature. It diff ers from the other two allotropes of
carbon—diamond and graphite. In fact diamond and graphite are giant molecules, which consist of an
unending network of carbon atoms. But buckminsterfullerene is a very small molecule made up of only
60 carbon atoms.
• Just like diamond and graphite, buckminsterfullerene also burns on hea ng to form carbon dioxide.
If we burn buckminsterfullerene in oxygen, then only carbon dioxide is formed and nothing is le
behind. This shows that buckminsterfullerene is made up only of carbon.

• Buckminsterfullerene is neither very hard nor very so .
• It is soluble in organic solvents.
• It is a bad conductor of electricity.

• The specifi c gravity of fullerenes ranges from 1.8 to 2.1.
Uses of Buckminsterfullerene
• Some compounds of buckminsterfullerene act as superconductors.

• Since it is a bad conductor of electricity, it is used as an insulator.
• It is used in fl at-screen televisions.
• It is also used for the treatment of AIDS.

Take a Break!

Fill in the blanks.
1. Carbon occurs as _______________ and _______________ in free state.

2. The various physical forms in which an element can exist are called _______________ of that
element.
3. Diamond is _______________ in all solvents.

4. _______________ is a greyish-black, opaque substance with a metallic lustre.
5. Buckminsterfullerene was named a er the American architect ____________________________.

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