Question

The number of five-membered and six-membered carbocyclic rings present in the fullerene `C_(60)` molecule are, respectively.
A. 12 and 18
B. 14 and 18
C. 10 and 20
D. 12 and 20

Answer 1

Correct Answer - D
To close into a spheroid a fullerene must have exactly 12 finve-membered rings, but the number of six membered rings can vary widely. In `C_(60)` molecule the fused ring aromatic system bends around and closes to form a soccer ball shaped molecule with 20 six-membered hexagonal rings 12 five-membered rings.