Carbon Catenation and Allotropes - Homework Problem Set

Interactive Course Summary

Carbon's intermediate electronegativity (χ = 2.55), compact covalent radius (77 pm), and absence of non-bonding lone pairs yield exceptionally strong C-C single, double, and triple bonds (D_C-C = 347 kJ/mol). Through sp³, sp², and sp valence hybridization, carbon forms stable polymeric catenated chains and distinct allotropic architectures, ranging from three-dimensional insulating diamond lattices (E_g = 5.47 eV) to two-dimensional conducting graphene sheets and fullerenes.