Why Does Graphite Conduct Electricity

Dwelling house
Learn
Support
Careers
- My Bitesize

Behemothic covalent molecules - AQA

Behemothic covalent substances have many atoms joined together by covalent bonds. Diamond, graphite and graphene are forms of carbon with different giant covalent structures.

Diamond and graphite

Diamond and graphite are unlike forms of the element carbon. They both have behemothic structures of carbon atoms , joined together past covalent bonds . Notwithstanding, their structures are different so some of their properties are unlike.

Diamond

Structure and bonding

Diamond is a giant covalent structure in which:

each carbon cantlet is joined to four other carbon atoms by strong covalent bonds
the carbon atoms form a regular tetrahedral network structure
there are no free electrons

Backdrop and uses

The rigid network of carbon atoms, held together by strong covalent bonds, makes diamond very hard. This makes it useful for cut tools, such equally diamond-tipped glass cutters and oil rig drills.

Like silica, diamond has a very high melting point and information technology does not conduct electricity.

Graphite

Structure and bonding

Graphite has a giant covalent construction in which:

each carbon cantlet forms three covalent bonds with other carbon atoms
the carbon atoms course layers of hexagonal rings
there are no covalent bonds betwixt the layers
there is one non-bonded - or delocalised - electron from each atom

Properties and uses

Graphite has delocalised electrons, just similar metals. These electrons are free to move betwixt the layers in graphite, and then graphite can acquit electricity. This makes graphite useful for electrodes in batteries and for electrolysis.

The forces betwixt the layers in graphite are weak. This means that the layers can slide over each other. This makes graphite glace, so it is useful as a lubricant .

Question: Explain why diamond does not conduct electricity and why graphite does conduct electricity.
: Diamond does non carry electricity because it has no charged particles that are free to move. Graphite does deport electricity because it has delocalised electrons which move between the layers.