Question

$C_{60}$ contains

• A. 20 pentagons and 12 hexagons
• B. 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons
• C. 30 pentagons and 30 hexagons
• D. 24 pentagons and 36 hexagons

Answer 1

The correct option is B 12 pentagons and 20 hexagons

The general name fullerene refers to the family of spheroidal carbon cage molecules. The shape of $C_{60}$ resembles that of a soccer ball.

(i)There are 12 five-membered rings.

(ii)There are 20 six-membered rings.

(iii)Six-membered rings are fused to other six-membered as well as five-membered rings.

(iv)Five-membered rings are fused to only six-membered rings.

(v)There are both single and double bonds.

All the carbon atoms are equivalent and undergo $s{p}^2$ hybridisation. There are both single and double bonds, with C - C distances of 145.3 and 138.5 pm, respectively.