Question

Why are the various allotropes of carbon have different chemical and physical properties?

• A. Different structure of carbon atoms
• B. Different bonding pattern among carbon atoms
• C. Different temperature gradient across carbon atoms
• D. Different number of valence electrons in the carbon atoms.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

Different bonding pattern among carbon atoms

Allotropes have different structural forms in the same phase through differences in the bonding of the atoms. The atoms involved will be the same, only the bonding pattern is changed.

This results in the difference in chemical response. The same substance might behave differently towards two allotropes. So, allotropes of carbon have different physical and chemical properties due to the difference in bonding pattern among carbon atoms.