A fullerene has 84 carbon atoms. Every carbon is bonded to three others, and the faces are 12…
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
A fullerene has 84 carbon atoms. Every carbon is bonded to three others, and the faces are 12 pentagons and a number of hexagons. Use Euler's rule, , to find the number of bonds, the number of faces and the number of hexagons. Then find the number of double bonds in a Lewis structure where every carbon takes part in exactly one double bond.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
A fullerene with carbon atoms has edges, 12 pentagons and hexagons, and . The diamond cell holds 8 atoms, with . At equilibrium between two forms, .
The worked solution
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Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Plan. Count the edges, then find the faces by Euler's rule.
Step 1. Bonds. .
Step 2. Faces. , so .
Step 3. Hexagons. .
Step 4. Double bonds. Each double bond uses two carbons, so there are of them. The other bonds are single.
Answer: bonds, faces, hexagons and double bonds.
Check. The rule gives hexagons, the same.
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