Simple Molecular Bonding

Simple molecular substances are made from non-metals bonded to non-metals

Structure: lots of individual molecules held together with strong covalent bonds, with weak intermolecular forces between them

• Low melting/boiling point
• Weak intermolecular forces of attraction which require little energy to overcome
• The melting and boiling points of simple molecular substances increase with relative molecular mass (the larger the size)
• Because the intermolecular forces increase with the size of the molecules, so more energy is needed to overcome them, so larger molecules have a higher mp/bp

Do not conduct electricity - No free charged particles

C60 Fullerene/Buckyball

• Low melting/boiling point and is soft
• It forms molecules of 60 carbon atoms
• The molecules have weak intermolecular forces of attraction between them which take little energy to overcome.

Does not conduct electricity:

• Each carbon atom is covalently bonded to 3 other carbon atoms with delocalised electrons.
• However it is not a conductor as these delocalised electrons cannot jump between different molecules.

Uses of C60 Fullerene:

• Has a large surface area so can help make catalysts
• Can trap other molecules by forming around them, which can then be used to deliver a drug directly to the cells in the body