C₆₀, an allotrope of carbon contains:

Concept:

The presence of one element in various structures, having distinctive physical properties, however comparable chemical properties are known as Allotropy. Diverse types of an element are called "Allotropes" or Allotropic Structures. Carbon demonstrates allotropy.

A fullerene is an allotrope of carbon whose molecule consists of carbon atoms connected by single and double bonds so as to form a closed or partially closed mesh, with fused rings of five to seven atoms.

They are spheroidal molecules having the composition, C_2n, where n ≥ 30. These carbon allotropes can be prepared by evaporating graphite with a laser. Unlike diamond, fullerenes dissolve in organic solvents. The fullerene C₆₀ is called ‘Buckminster Fullerene’.

C₆₀ has 60 carbon atoms and 90 bonds, 60 of which are single bonds, and 30 of which are aromatic double bonds. It has 20 hexagonal structures and 12 pentagonal structures. The pentagonal structures contain the single bonds, and the bridging bonds between pentagonal structures contain the double bonds.

C₆₀ particle has gloriously symmetrical structure. It is an intertwined ring of aromatic framework containing 20 hexagons and 12 pentagons of sp² hybridized C iotas.