2.3.12

Carbon Structures - Graphite

Test yourself on Carbon Structures - Graphite

Test your knowledge with free interactive questions on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

Graphite

Graphite is an allotrope (form) of carbon. Graphite has the following properties:

Covalent bonds

Covalent bonds

  • Every carbon atom in graphite is bonded to 3 other carbon atoms by strong covalent bonds.
  • This creates a giant covalent structure.
Graphite is soft

Graphite is soft

  • The carbon atoms form layers of hexagonal (6-sided) rings, with weak intermolecular forces keeping the layers together.
  • The layers can easily slide over one another, so graphite is very soft.
    • This makes graphite useful as a lubricant and as pencil ‘lead’.
Graphite conducts electricity

Graphite conducts electricity

  • Each carbon atom forms 3 bonds.
  • This means that there is 1 delocalised electron from every carbon atom.
  • This electron can move freely, so graphite is a good electrical conductor.
Jump to other topics
1

Atomic Structure

2

Chemical Bonding

3

Quantitative Chemistry

4

Chemical Changes

5

Energy Changes

6

The Rate & Extent of Chemical Change

7

Organic Chemistry

8

Chemical Analysis

9

Chemistry of the Atmosphere

10

Using Resources

Practice questions on Carbon Structures - Graphite

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Graphite is...Fill in the list
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
Answer all questions on Carbon Structures - Graphite

Unlock your full potential with Seneca Premium

  • Unlimited access to 10,000+ open-ended exam questions

  • Mini-mock exams based on your study history

  • Unlock 800+ premium courses & e-books

Get started with Seneca Premium