Is buckminsterfullerene a simple molecular substance or a giant covalent substance?

Is buckminsterfullerene a simple molecular substance or a giant covalent substance?

what is the reason? i just need a simple answer.

i rly need help!!! thx!!!

Reply 1

Eau

Hmmmm... tricky. I am voting for simple molecular as each molecule has exactly 60 carbon atoms. For giant covalent, there are no "molecules" e.g. diamond - there is no definite number of atoms.

Reply 2

summerrsunshine

hm.. that sounds like a good argument... can anyone else verify?

Reply 3

charco

Study Forum Helper

yup I go with Celeritus on this one.

'Giant', when referring to molecular doesn't mean 'rather a lot' it means effectively infinite i.e. as `many particles as there are available. 60 atoms is a tiny quantity and there are many simple molecules with this number - just think of the proteins.

The proof lies in the properties of fullerenes. They tend to boil at relatively low (considering the RMM) temperatures. C60 sublimes at 800K,
They are soluble in simple organic solvents such as benzene, methyl benzene, carbon disulphide and chloroform.