The Structures and Properties of Carbon

by: Olivia M. Castellini, George C. Lisensky, Jennifer Ehrlich, Greta M. Zenner, and Wendy C. Crone

The four main forms of carbon—diamond, graphite, buckyballs, and CNTs—are an excellent vehicle for teaching fundamental principles of chemical bonding, material structure, and properties. Carbon atoms form a variety of structures that are intrinsically connected to the properties they exhibit. Educators can take advantage of this striking relationship between atomic structure and material properties to address several Physical Science Standards (9-12), including Structure of Atoms and Structure and Properties of Matter
(NRC 1996, p. 178). This article discusses two new allotropes of carbon that are important for nanotechnology—buckyballs and CNTs—and related activities for the classroom.

Details

Type Journal ArticlePub Date 12/1/2006Stock # tst06_073_09_36Volume 073Issue 09

Community Reviews

Visit the Forums

Adah (San Antonio, TX)
Adah (San Antonio, TX)

The Fourth Allotrope of Carbon

Being chemistry major has made this article more interesting for me. I was unaware of the forth allotrope of carbon structure called CNT or carbon nanotubes. This article describes how the... See More

Adah (San Antonio, TX)
Adah (San Antonio, TX)

The Fourth Allotrope of Carbon

9) Being chemistry major has made this article more interesting for me. I was unaware of the forth allotrope of carbon structure called CNT or carbon nanotubes. This article describes how ... See More

NSTA Press produces classroom-ready activities, hands-on approaches to inquiry, relevant professional development, the latest scientific education news and research, assessment and standards-based instruction.

Learn More