2.3: Structure and bonding of carbon

Question 1

How is diamond structured?

Answer 1

In​ ​diamond​,​ ​each​ ​carbon​ ​is​ ​joined​ ​to​ ​4 other​ ​carbons​ ​covalently. It’s​ ​very​ ​hard,​ ​has​ ​a​ ​very​ ​high​ ​melting​ ​point and​ ​does​ ​not​ ​conduct​ ​electricity.

Question 2

How is graphite structured?

Answer 2

In​ ​graphite,​ ​each​ ​carbon​ ​is​ ​covalently​ ​bonded​ ​to​ ​3​ ​other​ ​carbons,​ ​forming layers​ ​of​ ​hexagonal​ ​rings​ ​which​ ​have​ ​no​ ​covalent​ ​bonds​ ​between​ ​the​ ​layers.

The​ ​layers​ ​can​ ​slide​ ​over​ ​each​ ​other​ ​due​ ​to​ ​no​ ​covalent​ ​bonds between​ ​the​ ​layers,​ ​but​ ​weak​ ​intermolecular​ ​forces.​ ​Meaning​ ​that graphite​ ​is​ ​soft​ ​and​ ​slippery.

Question 3

How is graphene structured?

Answer 3

Graphene is a single layer of carbon. Graphene​ ​is​ ​very​ ​strong​ ​because​ ​atoms​ ​within​ ​its​ ​layers​ ​are​ ​very
tightly​ ​bonded

Question 4

What are carbon nanotubes and what do they do?

Answer 4

o Cylindrical​ ​fullerenes​ ​with​ ​very​ ​high​ ​length​ ​to​ ​diameter​ ​ratios.
o Their​ ​properties​ ​make​ ​them​ ​useful​ ​for​ ​nanotechnology,​ ​electronics and​ ​materials.