Diamond and Graphite Flashcards
(6 cards)
1
Q
What makes diamond really hard?
A
- carbon atom
- 4 strong covalent bonds
- in a giant covalent structure.
2
Q
Why does diamond have a high melting point?
A
The strong covalent bonds take a lot of energy to break.
3
Q
Why can’t diamond conduct electricity?
A
It has no free electrons or ions.
4
Q
How many bonds does each carbon atom form in graphite?
A
Three covalent bonds, forming hexagon sheets.
5
Q
Why is graphite soft and slippery?
A
There are weak forces between the layers, so they can slide over each other easily.
6
Q
Why can graphite conduct electricity and heat?
A
Each carbon atom has one free (delocalised) electron that can move.
