Which allotrope of carbon is structured as a hollow sphere or ellipsoid, commonly known as buckyballs?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Fullerenes represent an allotrope of carbon arranged in closed hollow cages or spherical shapes, of which buckminsterfullerene or C60 is the most widely recognized example resembling a soccer ball. Diamond and graphite are other well-known carbon allotropes characterized by rigid tetrahedral lattices and layered hexagonal sheets, respectively, rather than closed molecular cages. These carbon nanostructures exhibit unique electronic and chemical properties with applications in nanotechnology and materials science.