Fullerenes and Carbon Nanotubes
Revise Fullerenes and Carbon Nanotubes for GCSE Chemistry with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. Fullerenes are hollow carbon cages such as buckminsterfullerene (C₆₀), while nanotubes have high tensile strength and conduct electricity.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
Fullerenes are molecules of carbon atoms with hollow shapes. Their structures are based mainly on hexagonal rings, but they may also contain rings with five or seven carbon atoms.
The first fullerene to be discovered was Buckminsterfullerene, C₆₀, which has a spherical shape rather like a football. Fullerenes can be used to deliver drugs into the body, as lubricants, and as catalysts because of their very large surface area.
Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical fullerenes with very high length to diameter ratios. Their properties make them useful for nanotechnology, electronics and materials: they have high tensile strength, conduct electricity and conduct thermal energy well.
Revision notes
Fullerene structure
Fullerenes are molecules of carbon atoms with hollow shapes, based mainly on hexagonal rings of carbon atoms.
They may also contain rings with five or seven carbon atoms. The first to be discovered was Buckminsterfullerene, C₆₀, which is spherical.
Uses of fullerenes
Delivering drugs into the body, because a drug molecule can be carried inside the hollow structure.
As lubricants, and as catalysts because of their very large surface area to volume ratio.
Carbon nanotubes
Cylindrical fullerenes with very high length to diameter ratios.
They have high tensile strength so are used to reinforce materials, and they conduct both electricity and thermal energy well, making them useful in electronics and nanotechnology.
Key points
- Fullerenes are hollow molecules of carbon atoms.
- Their structures are based mainly on hexagonal rings.
- Buckminsterfullerene C₆₀ was the first discovered.
- Fullerenes can deliver drugs into the body.
- Carbon nanotubes are cylindrical fullerenes.
- Nanotubes have high tensile strength and conduct electricity.
Worked examples
Example 1
State the formula of Buckminsterfullerene and describe its shape. [2 marks]
Model answer
C₆₀ (1 mark), and it has a hollow spherical shape rather like a football (1 mark).
Example 2
Give two properties of carbon nanotubes and a use for each. [4 marks]
Model answer
They have high tensile strength (1 mark), so they are used to reinforce materials such as tennis rackets (1 mark). They conduct electricity (1 mark), so they are useful in electronics (1 mark).
Example 3
Explain why fullerenes can be used as catalysts. [2 marks]
Model answer
Fullerenes have a very large surface area to volume ratio (1 mark), which provides many sites for reactions to take place on (1 mark).
Common mistakes
Saying fullerenes contain only hexagonal rings.
They are based mainly on hexagons but may also contain five or seven membered rings.
Confusing fullerenes with graphene.
Graphene is a single flat layer; fullerenes are hollow shapes.
Giving the wrong formula for Buckminsterfullerene.
It is C₆₀.
Naming a property without giving its use.
Questions usually want the property linked to an application.
Exam tips
- Learn C₆₀ as the formula for Buckminsterfullerene.
- Pair each property of nanotubes with a use.
- Say mainly hexagonal rings rather than only hexagonal.
- Link the catalyst use to surface area to volume ratio.
Key terms
- Fullerene
- A hollow molecule of carbon atoms.
- Buckminsterfullerene
- The spherical fullerene with formula C₆₀.
- Carbon nanotube
- A cylindrical fullerene with a high length to diameter ratio.
- Tensile strength
- Resistance to being pulled apart.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.