- Elements exist in different structural forms e.g. Carbon - Carbon can be found in the form of diamond, graphite and fullerene molecule (C 60 ) - Allotropes different structural forms of an element - Appearance and physical properties of these three forms of carbon are vastly different - Diamond exists as a covalent network lattice and graphite as a covalent layer lattice, whereas fullerene exists as discrete, soccer-ball-shaped molecules Allotropes of Carbon Allotrope Bonding Structure Properties Uses Diamond (Silicon is the same) Covalent bonding throughout giant covalent network lattice Giant covalent network lattice each carbon surrounded by four other carbon atoms in a tetrahedral arrangement Very hard, sublimes (At very high temperatures bonds between the carbon atoms are overcome and they have so much energy that the atoms move straight to a gaseous state), non-conductive (no delocalised electrons as all 4 valence electrons are bonded), brittle Jewellery, cutting tools, drills Graphite Covalent bonding in layers and delocalised electrons that allow electrostatic attraction between layers Giant covalent layer lattice, each carbon bonded to three other carbons; one delocalised electron per carbon atom Conductive, lubricant, soft, greasy Lubricant, pencils, electrodes, reinforcing fibres Fullerenes Covalent bonding throughout covalent macromolecule Large, almost spherical shape, hexagonal and pentagonal covalently bonded carbon rings Not yet fully understood, discovered very recently Catalyst, medical uses, electromagnetic devices, other possible uses
Silicon and silicon dioxide - Silicon member of group 4 - Forms four covalent bonds with other silicon atoms creating a network structure - Crystals are blue-grey - Ability to behave as a semiconductor when it has had boron gallium, phosphorus or arsenic added to it - Silicon is larger atom than carbon and therefore Si-Si bond length is considerably longer than the C-C in diamond - Shorter the bond = higher its bond enthalpy thus longer bond length means that the Si-Si bond will have a lower bond enthalpy than the C-C bond making silicon more reactive than diamond - Silicon dioxide is amajor constitute of sand and is used to make glass - Has a network lattice structure made up of alternating silicon and oxygen atoms - Occurs commonly in nature as sandstone EXERCISES: SECTION 2.4 1. A) Describe the structure in diamond. Giant covalent network lattice in which each carbon atom is surrounded by four other carbon atoms bonded in a tetrahedral lattice structure B) Describe the properties of diamond to which this structure gives rise. Very hard bonding forces are very strong in all three dimensions Sublimes At extremely high temperatures bonds between the carbon atoms are overcome causing atoms to have so much energy that the atoms move straight into the gaseous state Non-conductive Carbon has no extra valence electrons 2. Describe the structure of fullerene and state its properties. Large, almost spherical shape, hexagonal and pentagonal covalently bonded carbon rings. Potential applications involving superconductivity and the production of micro-scale semiconductors 3. A) State the type of structure displayed in silicon. Able to form four covalent bonds with other silicon atoms to create a network lattice structure. B) The Si-Si bond length is 235.2 pm; that of C-C in diamond is 142.6 pm. Explain how this difference in bond length affects its reactivity. The general trend is that the shorter the bond the higher the enthalpy therefore the longer bond length between Si-Si bond in comparison to a C-C bond means that less energy is required to break a Si-Si bond than a C-C bond, making silicon more reactive. 4. A) Silicon dioxide occurs commonly in nature and in a number of different forms. State the different names for all these forms. Sandstone, sand, quartzite and quartz B) State the name given to the structure of silicon dioxide. Tetrahedral lattice structure similar to that of diamond