Covalent Network Structures

• Allotrope

  Alternative physical forms of an elemental substance such as diamond or graphite.
• Carbon and silicon can form four single bonds and have a unique ability to form bonds with themselves to create chain-like structures. This allows them to form covalent bonds indefinitely, forming large lattice structures known as covalent network structures.
• Allotrope: Diamond

  
• Allotrope: Graphite

  
• Allotrope: Buckminsterfullerene

  
• Allotrope: Carbon nanotube

  
• Both nanotubes and fullerenes have wide uses in the medical industry due to their ability to bind to specific target molecules and to carry specific drug and gene therapies to a target site.