pBlock ElementsII 1 Question 2

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2. The number of pentagons in $\mathrm{C}_{60}$ and trigons (triangles) in white phosphorus, respectively, are (2019 Main, 10 April II)

======= ####2. The number of pentagons in $\mathrm{C}_{60}$ and trigons (triangles) in white phosphorus, respectively, are (2019 Main, 10 April II)

3e0f7ab6f6a50373c3f2dbda6ca2533482a77bed (a) 20 and 3

(b) 12 and 4

(c) 20 and 4

(d) 12 and 3

Show Answer

Solution:

  1. In $\mathrm{C}_{60}$ (Buckminster fullerene) twenty hexagons and twelve pentagons are present which are interlocked resulting a shape of soccer ball. Every ring in this structure is aromatic.

Phosphorus has large atomic size and less electronegativity, so it forms single bond instead of $p \pi-p \pi$ multiple bond. So, it consists of discrete tetrahedral $\mathrm{P}_{4}$ molecule as shown below :

$\therefore \quad$ Number of trigons (triangles) $=4$