Diamond
Diamond is Transparent and possesses shiny appearance. Diamond is very hard. Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator. Diamond is the ultimate abrasive. Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system. A diamond is one giant molecule of carbon atoms.
Diamond
Diamond is Transparent and possesses shiny appearance. Diamond is very hard. Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator. Diamond is the ultimate abrasive. Diamond crystallizes in the Isometric system. A diamond is one giant molecule of carbon atoms.
Graphite
Graphite is black and possesses dull appearance. Graphite is comparatively softer. Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. Graphite is a very good lubricant. Graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. Graphite is formed from carbon atoms in layers.
Graphite
Graphite is black and possesses dull appearance. Graphite is comparatively softer. Graphite is a good conductor of electricity. Graphite is a very good lubricant. Graphite crystallizes in the hexagonal system. Graphite is formed from carbon atoms in layers.
What gives diamond and graphite its properties?
Diamond is very hard because of its molecular structure.
Diamond is an excellent electrical conductor because every atom in a diamond is bonded to its neighbours by four strong covalent bonds leaving no free electrons and no ions. That's why diamond does not conduct electricity
Graphite is soft because they are built in layers.
Graphite is a good electrical conductor because each carbon atom is bonded into its layer with three strong covalent bonds. This leaves each atom with a spare electron, which together form a delocalised ‘sea’ of electrons loosely bonding the layers together. These delocalised electrons can all move along together – making graphite a good electrical conductor.
Graphite is a very good lubricant because the layers are only weakly held together they can easily slip over