Forms of Carbon

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Overview
Standards
Resources
Evaluations
Comments

Overview

Description:

“Forms of Carbon” is a cart demo that demonstrates how the nanoscale arrangement of atoms dramatically impacts a material’s macroscale behavior. Visitors learn about the structure and properties of four different forms of carbon. During the program, visitors interact with models of four different forms of carbon. Visitors also observe the conductivity of graphite (using a simple circuit and an everyday pencil) and the hardness of diamond (using a diamond scribe to cut glass).

Objectives

Big Idea:

Carbon has many different forms. Nanoscale differences in the structures of the different forms give rise to their dramatically different properties.

Learning goals:

Elemental carbon has many different structural forms, e.g. graphite, diamond, carbon nanotubes and buckyballs.
The forms of carbon differ in their nanoscale structure.
These nanoscale differences cause the different forms of carbon to have different properties at the macroscale.

NISE Net Content Map:

Nanometer-sized things are very small, and often behave differently than larger things do.

Nanoscience, nanotechnology, and nanoengineering lead to new knowledge and innovations that weren't possible before.

Universal design:

Repeat and reinforce main ideas and concepts.

Credits

Developed for the NISE Network with funding from the National Science Foundation under Award Numbers 0532536 and 0940143. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Foundation.

Checklist

Scientist reviewed? check_reviewed

Peer reviewed? check_reviewed

Visitor evaluation? check_reviewed

Nano Topics

Fundamentals, Materials, tools, and applications

Audience

7 and up

Permissions

Creative Commons
Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike

Standards

History and nature of science:

5-8: History of science

Physical science:

K-4: Properties of objects and materials

5-8: Properties and changes of properties in matter

9-12: Structure and properties of matter

9-12: Structure of atoms

Science and Technology:

K-4: Abilities of technological design

K-4: Abilities to distinguish between natural objects and objects made by humans

K-4: Understanding about science and technology

5-8: Abilities of technological design

5-8: Understanding about science and technology

9-12: Abilities of technological design

9-12: Understanding about science and technology

Science in Personal and Social Perspectives:

K-4: Science and technology in local challenges

5-8: Risks and benefits

5-8: Science and technology in society

9-12: Natural and human-induced hazards

9-12: Science and technology in local, national, and global challenges

Resources

Download all files (ZIP)

Files:

Forms of Carbon - Guide

Carbon Nanotubes poster

Forms of Carbon - Poster

Links:

Forms of Carbon

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Video:

Evaluations

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Comments

Another source for the

Submitted by Sarah Maine on Thu, 01/15/2009 - 13:39.

Another source for the molecular models.

I have had a lot of difficulty finding a US based company that sells the molecular models like those listed in the materials section above. I love the way these models look, however, I had difficulties when trying to order from the UK company listed. So the search for an alternative vendor began and here is what I found.

Sargent-Welch, a NY based company, sells the buckyball model and all the individual atoms and bonds needed to produce graphite, diamond, and nanotubes.

Here is the link to the company:
http://sargentwelch.com/Default.asp?bhcd2=1232051677

Item #'s and descriptions:
Buckyball
Item # G0039828 Buckminsterfullerene C60 Molymod Model

Graphite
Item # WLS61900-10CC Replacement Molymod Parts, Element: Carbon, Color: Dark
Blue, Holes: 5, Dia., mm: 23, Pkg. of 10
Item # XXWLS61900-10KK Replacement Molymod Parts, Element: Medium Gray Links,
Color: Gray, Pkg. of 25
Item # XXWLS61900-10JJ Replacement Molymod Parts, Element: Medium Purple
Links, Color: Purple, Pkg. of 25

Qty needed for 1 graphite model: 45 5-hole atoms, 51 gray bonds, 16 purple bonds

Diamond
Item # XXWLS61900-10V Replacement Molymod Parts, Element: Carbon sp3, Color:
Black, Holes: 4, Dia., mm: 23, Pkg. of 10
Item # XXWLS61900-10KK Replacement Molymod Parts, Element: Medium Gray Links,
Color: Gray, Pkg. of 25

Qty needed for 1 diamond model: 30 4-hole atoms, 40 gray links

Nanotube
Item # XXWLS61900-10S Replacement Molymod Parts, Element: Carbon sp2, Color:
Black, Holes: 3, Dia., mm: 23, Pkg. of 10
Item # XXWLS61900-10KK Replacement Molymod Parts, Element: Medium Gray Links,
Color: Gray, Pkg. of 25
Qty needed for 1 nanotube model: 70 3-hole atoms, 105 gray links