Allotrope

Contents

Key Stage 4

Meaning

Allotropes are different arrangements of atoms in an element.

About Allotropes

Different allotropes of the same element can have very different physical properties such as melting point and electrical conductivity.

Examples

These are several allotropes of Carbon.

Diamond is a giant covalent structure where each Carbon atom has 4 bonds with adjacent atoms.	Graphite has a giant covalent structure with each Carbon atom has 3 bonds with adjacent atoms in a layer with loose bonds between the layers.	Graphene has a giant covalent structure where each Carbon atom has 3 bonds with adjacent atoms forming a layer that is one atom thick.	Fullerenes have a giant covalent structure where each Carbon atom has 3 bonds with adjacent atoms forming a sphere.