2.6.1

Giant Covalent Structures - Graphite

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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.
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

States of Matter

2

Atoms, Elements & Compounds

3

Stoichometry

4

Electrochemistry

5

Chemical Energetics

6

Chemical Reactions

7

Acids, Bases & Salts

8

The Periodic Table

9

Metals

10

Chemistry of the Environment

11

Organic Chemistry

11.1

Formulae, Functional Groups & Terminology

11.2

Naming Organic Compounds

11.3

Fuels

11.4

Alkanes

11.5

Alkenes

11.6

Alcohols

11.7

Carboxylic Acids

11.8

Polymers

12

Experimental Techniques & Chemical Analysis

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