In: Chemistry
Buckminsterfullerene was discovered in 1985 at Rice University. It is a carbon molecule that has a soccer ball like fused-ring structure (trucated isosahedron) comprised of twenty hexagons and twelve pentagons. Determine the components of the internal energy that would be nonzero for solid buckminsterfullerene at 270K.
There are two components of Internal Energy : Kinetic energy and Potential energy.
Kinetic energy is the energy associated with movement of the particles in the system.
Potential energy is the energy associated with the position of the particles in the system.
Both the kinetic energy and the potential energy for solid buckministerfullerene at 270 K will be nonzero. though, the magnitude of Kinetic energy will be really less since the compound is in the solid state and is absolutely in a packet structure, therefore, motion amongst the particles is not that feasible. while, the potential energy is the energy for the particles by virtue of there relativity to other particles, the way it is arranged, it might experience forces or stess or such other factors : gravitational force is sometime that is associated with almost everything so that is also accounted. therefore, the internal energy of this system comprises almost of the potential energy.