Question

The element carbon is found naturally in several forms. What are some of these forms?

Answer 1

There are 4 major carbon allotropes:

Explanation:

There are 4 major carbon allotropes:

1. Diamond - Is a macromolecule, of tetrahedrally arranged, `sp^3`-hybridized carbon atoms
2. Graphene - is a planar macromolecule, in which carbons are `sp^2`-hybridized and arranged in a trigonal planar fashion
3. Graphite - is a group of graphene molecules layered one over the other and held together by weak intermolecular forces. (Look at the pencil you may be holding in your hand; what you write with is essentially graphite)
4. Fullerenes :
   a. `C_60` (a.k.a. Buckminster or Bucky balls) - consists of 60 `sp^2`-hybridized carbon atoms that are arranged in pentagons
   and hexagons, to form at sphere
   b. Carbon nanotubes - these essentially look like rolled up graphene sheets, that form a tube.

Note, that there are many more. But this is a sample of some of the most common, and/or most interesting