Describe the structure of diamond and graphite with diagram and give reason for the following. (a) Graphite can be used as a lubricant but diamonds cannot. (b) Diamond is used in rock drilling but graphite cannot. (c) Graphite is used for making dry cell electrodes but diamond is not.
Answers
Answer:
(a) Diamond :
(i) Each carbon atom is linked to four other carbon atoms.
(ii) A diamond crystal has a tetrahedral arrangement of carbon atoms.
Graphite:
(i) Each carbon atom is joined to only three other carbon atoms.
(ii) A graphite crystal has a flat hexagonal ring structure.
(b) Due to its softness, powdered graphite can be used as a lubricant whereas diamond being extremely hard can not be used as a lubricant.
(c) Due to its rigid structure, diamond is the hardest known substance to man. Hence, it is used in rock drilling equipment but graphite is soft and hence not used in rock drilling equipment.
(d) Diamonds are used for making jewellery.
Graphite is used for making pencil cores of 'pencil leads'.
Answer:
Graphite: (i) Each carbon atom is joined to only three other carbon atoms. (ii) A graphite crystal has a flat hexagonal ring structure. (b) Due to its softness, powdered graphite can be used as a lubricant whereas diamond being extremely hard can not be used as a lubricant.(a) Diamond :
(i) Each carbon atom is linked to four other carbon atoms.
(ii) A diamond crystal has a tetrahedral arrangement of carbon atoms.
Graphite:
(i) Each carbon atom is joined to only three other carbon atoms.
(ii) A graphite crystal has a flat hexagonal ring structure.
(b) Due to its softness, powdered graphite can be used as a lubricant whereas diamond being extremely hard can not be used as a lubricant.
(c) Due to its rigid structure, diamond is the hardest known substance to man. Hence, it is used in rock drilling equipment but graphite is soft and hence not used in rock drilling equipment.
(d) Diamonds are used for making jewellery.
Graphite is used for making pencil cores of 'pencil leads'.