2.3e: discuss the different structures formed by carbon atoms, including graphite, diamond, fullerenes and carbon nanotubes, and the applications of these, eg the potential to use nanotubes as vehicles to carry drugs into cells

Diamond:

• made up of tetrahedral interlocking carbon atoms, which are all covalently bonded to four other atoms
• a giant covalent structure, extremely hard, chemically inert, poor conductor
• usually colourless

Graphite:

• black/grey, flakey
• made up of layers of trigonal carbon atoms, which are all covalently bonded to three other carbon atoms at 120° bond angles
• London (Van der Waals) forces form between the layers, which allows them to slide away in flakes
• good conductor, chemically inert
• used as a lubricant, in electrodes, in pencils, etc.

Fullerenes:

• buckminsterfullerene = 60 atoms of carbon, 32 sides
• dissolves in petrol to form a dark red solution, can conduct electricity
• has delocalised electrons

Nanotubules:

• elongated cage-like structures, all containing 12 five-membered rings and almost any number of six-membered rings
• make highly complex shapes
• could be used in air and spacecraft, as they have good electrical conductivity as well as enormous strength and lightness
• could also be used to inject drugs into cells