DIAMOND AND GRAPHITE

Made by: Meghna Advani

STRUCTURE OF DIAMOND
A carbon atom forms covalent bonds to four other. Each outer atom then bonds to three more. Eventually billions of carbon atoms are bonded together, in a giant covalent structure.

PROPERTIES OF DIAMOND:
It is very hard, because each atom is held in place by four strong covalent bonds. For the same reason it has a very high melting point, 3550. It cant conduct electricity because there are no ions or free electrons to carry the charge.

STRUCTURE OF GRAPHITE

Like diamond, graphite is made only of carbon atoms. So diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon- two forms of the same element. Diamond is the hardest solid on Earth. But graphite is one of the softest! In Graphite, each carbon atom forms covalent bonds to three others.

PROPERTIES OF GRAPHITE
Unlike diamond, it is soft and slippery. That is because sheets can slide over each other. Unlike diamond, it is a good conductor of electricity. This is because each carbon atom has four outer electrons, but forms only three bonds. So the fourth electron is free to move trough graphite, carrying charge.

MAKING USE...

substance

properties
Very hard and sharp. Sparkles when cut.

uses
In tools for drilling and cutting. For jewellery. As a lubricant in engines and locks. For pencil lead(mixed with clay). For electrodes, and connecting brushes in generators.

Diamond Graphite

Soft and slippery. Soft and dark in color.

Conducts electricity.

KEY POINTS
Diamond and Graphite are very different. Both are giant covalent structure. Diamond is very hard and Graphite is very soft. Diamond is a bad conductor of electricity, Graphite is a good conductor of electricity.

QUIZ...
Why is Diamond used for jewellery? It sparkles when cut. Why is graphite use for making pencil lead? It is soft and dark in color. One difference between diamond and graphite: Diamond is very hard and Graphite is very soft or Diamond is a bad conductor of electricity, Graphite is a good conductor of electricity.