Question

Name an allotrope of carbon which contains both single and double bonds between carbon atoms.

• A. Graphite
• B. diamond
• C. Fullerene
• D. No allotrope meets such a condition.

Answer 1

The correct option is D: Both Graphite and Fullerene

In diamond, each carbon atom is covalently bonded to four other carbon atoms. A lot of energy is needed to separate the atoms. However, in graphite, each carbon atom is only covalently bonded to three other carbon atoms, rather than to four as in diamond. Hence, graphite is an allotrope of carbon that contains both single and double bonds between its carbon atoms.

A fullerene molecular carbon is connected by single and double bonds so as to form a closed or partially closed mesh-like structure, with fused rings of five to seven atoms.