1.3.3
Carbon Structures
Diamond
Diamond
Diamond is an allotrope (form) of carbon. Diamond has the following properties:
Covalent bonds
Covalent bonds
- Each carbon atom in diamond is bonded to four other carbon atoms by strong covalent bonds.
- This creates a giant covalent structure.
Hard
Hard
- There are lots of strong covalent bonds in diamond. This makes it very hard.
- Because diamond is hard, it is used as a cutting tool to cut other materials.
Does NOT conduct electricity
Does NOT conduct electricity
- Diamond does NOT conduct electricity because there are no delocalised electrons in the diamond structure.
High melting point
High melting point
- A lot of energy is needed to break strong covalent bonds.
- Diamond has lots of strong covalent bonds. This means that it has a high melting point.
Thermal conductivity
Thermal conductivity
- Diamond has a very rigid structure.
- This means that vibrations can easily carry heat throughout the structure.
- Diamond is an excellent thermal conductor.
Graphite
Graphite
Graphite is an allotrope (form) of carbon. Graphite has the following properties:
Covalent bonds
Covalent bonds
- Each carbon atom in graphite is bonded to 3 other carbon atoms by strong covalent bonds.
- This creates a giant covalent structure.
Strong covalent bonds
Strong covalent bonds
- Due to the strong covalent bonds within the sheets, graphite:
- Has a high melting point.
- Is insoluble in solvents.
Soft
Soft
- The carbon atoms form layers of hexagonal (6-sided) rings, with each layer held together by weak intermolecular forces.
- The layers can slide over one another easily, so graphite is very soft.
- This makes it useful as a lubricant and as pencil ‘lead’.
Conducts electricity
Conducts electricity
- Each carbon atom forms 3 covalent bonds.
- 1 electron from every carbon atom in graphite is delocalised.
- This electron can move freely, so graphite can conduct electricity.
1Physical Chemistry
1.1Atomic Structure
1.1.1Fundamental Particles
1.1.2Isotopes & Mass Number
1.1.3Mass Spectrometry
1.1.4Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals
1.1.5Electron Configuration
1.1.6Ionisation Energy
1.1.7Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies
1.1.8Trends of Ionisation
1.1.9Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies
1.1.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure
1.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Atomic Structure
1.2Amount of Substance
1.3Bonding
1.3.1Ionic Bonding
1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding
1.3.3Carbon Structures
1.3.4Metallic Bonding
1.3.5Physical Properties
1.3.6Shapes of Molecules
1.3.7Polarity
1.3.8Intermolecular Forces
1.3.9Intermolecular Forces 2
1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding
1.3.11Exam-Style Question - Shape of Molecules
1.3.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Bonding
1.4Energetics
1.5Kinetics
1.6Equilibria
2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
2.1Thermodynamics (A2 Only)
2.2Rate Equations (A2 Only)
2.3The Equilibrium Constant Kp (A2 Only)
2.4Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)
2.5Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.1Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.2pH (A2 Only)
2.5.3The Ionic Product of Water (A2 Only)
2.5.4Weak Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.5pH Curves & Titrations (A2 Only)
2.5.6pH Curves & Titrations 2 (A2 Only)
2.5.7Buffer Solutions (A2 Only)
2.5.8End of Topic Test - Acids & Bases
2.5.9Exam-Style Question - Weak Acids
2.5.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Acids & Bases
3Inorganic Chemistry
3.1Periodicity & Trends
4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
4.1Period 3 (A2 Only)
4.2Transition Metals (A2 Only)
4.2.1General Properties (A2 Only)
4.2.2Substitution Reactions (A2 Only)
4.2.3Shapes of Complex Ions (A2 Only)
4.2.4Colours of Ions (A2 Only)
4.2.5Variable Oxidation States (A2 Only)
4.2.6Titrations (A2 Only)
4.2.7Homogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)
4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)
4.2.9End of Topic Test - Transition Metals
4.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Transition Metals
4.3Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solutions (A2 Only)
5Organic Chemistry 1
5.1Introduction
5.2Alkanes
5.3Halogenoalkanes
5.4Alkenes
5.5Alcohols
5.6Organic Analysis
5.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 1
6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)
6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)
6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)
6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)
6.5Amines (A2 Only)
6.6Polymers (A2 Only)
6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)
6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)
6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)
6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)
6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2
Jump to other topics
1Physical Chemistry
1.1Atomic Structure
1.1.1Fundamental Particles
1.1.2Isotopes & Mass Number
1.1.3Mass Spectrometry
1.1.4Electron Shells, Sub-Shells & Orbitals
1.1.5Electron Configuration
1.1.6Ionisation Energy
1.1.7Factors Affecting Ionisation Energies
1.1.8Trends of Ionisation
1.1.9Specific Impacts on Ionisation Energies
1.1.10End of Topic Test - Atomic Structure
1.1.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Atomic Structure
1.2Amount of Substance
1.3Bonding
1.3.1Ionic Bonding
1.3.2Covalent & Dative Bonding
1.3.3Carbon Structures
1.3.4Metallic Bonding
1.3.5Physical Properties
1.3.6Shapes of Molecules
1.3.7Polarity
1.3.8Intermolecular Forces
1.3.9Intermolecular Forces 2
1.3.10End of Topic Test - Bonding
1.3.11Exam-Style Question - Shape of Molecules
1.3.12A-A* (AO3/4) - Bonding
1.4Energetics
1.5Kinetics
1.6Equilibria
2Physical Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
2.1Thermodynamics (A2 Only)
2.2Rate Equations (A2 Only)
2.3The Equilibrium Constant Kp (A2 Only)
2.4Electrochemical Cells (A2 Only)
2.5Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.1Brønsted-Lowry Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.2pH (A2 Only)
2.5.3The Ionic Product of Water (A2 Only)
2.5.4Weak Acids & Bases (A2 Only)
2.5.5pH Curves & Titrations (A2 Only)
2.5.6pH Curves & Titrations 2 (A2 Only)
2.5.7Buffer Solutions (A2 Only)
2.5.8End of Topic Test - Acids & Bases
2.5.9Exam-Style Question - Weak Acids
2.5.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Acids & Bases
3Inorganic Chemistry
3.1Periodicity & Trends
4Inorganic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
4.1Period 3 (A2 Only)
4.2Transition Metals (A2 Only)
4.2.1General Properties (A2 Only)
4.2.2Substitution Reactions (A2 Only)
4.2.3Shapes of Complex Ions (A2 Only)
4.2.4Colours of Ions (A2 Only)
4.2.5Variable Oxidation States (A2 Only)
4.2.6Titrations (A2 Only)
4.2.7Homogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)
4.2.8Heterogeneous Catalysts (A2 Only)
4.2.9End of Topic Test - Transition Metals
4.2.10A-A* (AO3/4) - Transition Metals
4.3Reactions of Ions in Aqueous Solutions (A2 Only)
5Organic Chemistry 1
5.1Introduction
5.2Alkanes
5.3Halogenoalkanes
5.4Alkenes
5.5Alcohols
5.6Organic Analysis
5.7A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 1
6Organic Chemistry 2 (A2 Only)
6.1Optical Isomerism (A2 Only)
6.2Aldehydes & Ketones (A2 Only)
6.3Carboxylic Acids & Esters (A2 Only)
6.4Aromatic Chemistry (A2 Only)
6.5Amines (A2 Only)
6.6Polymers (A2 Only)
6.7Biological Organic (A2 Only)
6.8Organic Synthesis (A2 Only)
6.9NMR Spectroscopy (A2 Only)
6.10Chromatography (A2 Only)
6.11A-A* (AO3/4) - Organic 2
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