Question

(a) What is graphite? Of what substance is graphite made?
(b) Describe the structure of graphite with the help of a labelled diagram.
(c) Why is graphite a good conductor of electricity but diamond is a non-conductor of electricity?
(d) State any two uses of graphite.

Answer 1

Answer:

1).

Graphite is made of pure carbon. Carbon atoms are capable of forming bonds which create a number of different structures. Diamond and graphite are two of the most well-known forms (allotropes) of carbon.

2)The structure of graphite consists of layers or sheets of carbon atoms which form flat hexagonal rings. In a graphite layer or sheet, each carbon atom is connected to three other carbon atoms by covalent bonds. Each layer of carbon atoms is at a distance with no covalent bonds existing between them.

3) Graphite can conduct electricity because of the delocalised (free) electrons in its structure. ... However, in diamond, all 4 outer electrons on each carbon atom are used in covalent bonding, so there are no delocalised electrons.

4) Uses of Graphite

• Graphite is mostly used for refractory, battery, steel, expanded graphite, brake linings, foundry facings, and lubricants. ...
• Graphite blocks are used in blast furnace linings where the graphite's high thermal conductivity is very critical.

Answer 2

Explanation:

• (a) Graphite is a substance that is blackish grey in colour, which is made up of carbon.
• (b) Graphite has the structure that is different to that of diamond. A graphite includes the carbon atom layers or carbon atom sheets. In a graphite layer, each carbon atom is linked to other carbon atoms by covalent bonds that are strong forming hexagonal rings that are flat. In graphite, there are multiple carbon atom layers that are held together by the forces of weak Van der Waals. When compared, graphite is seen as a soft substance because of its structure.
• (c) Graphite is a good conductor of electricity because of free electrons presence in the graphite crystal. But there will be no free electrons in the diamond crystals, so there will not be any conductance of electricity.
• (d) Graphite is used for making leads for pencils and used as lubricants.