Giant Covalent Structures - Key Concepts

Question 1

What is a covalent bond?

Answer 1

A shared pair of electrons between two non-metal atoms

Question 2

Covalent bonds form between which type of elements?

Answer 2

Non-metals

Question 3

Where are non metals found on the periodic table?

Answer 3

To the left of the stepped line

Question 4

Name 5 types of Giant Covalent Structure

Answer 4

Diamond
Silicon dioxide
Graphene
Graphite
Carbon Nanotubes

Giant Covalent Structure - Huge network of atoms joined by strong covalent bonds, giving very high melting points.
Not all fullerenes (hollow carbon allotropes) are Giant covalent structures because some contain a fixed number of atoms (like Buckminsterfullerene - C60)
Giant Covalent Structures don’t have a fixed number of atoms

Question 5

Define Giant Covalent Structure

Answer 5

Huge network of atoms joined by strong covalent bonds, giving very high melting points.

Avoid sayiing in all directions forming a regular lattice structure as this is not true of all giant covalent structures, e.g. a single graphene layer

Question 6

Describe the structure of diamond

Answer 6

Giant Covalent Structure
Carbon allotrope with each carbon atom forming 4 strong covalent bonds with other carbon atoms in a regular 3D lattice structure
No delocalised electrons

Get into the habit of always saying ‘strong covalent bonds’

Giant covalent structure - a huge network of atoms joined by strong covalent bonds, giving very high melting points
No delocalised electrons is why diamond, unlike graphite, does not conduct electricity