Question

I am confused why graphite is a good conductor of electricity while diamond is not?

Answer 1

It is so because in graphite there are free electrons. And in diamond it is not.

Answer 2

• In a graphite molecule, one valence electron of each carbon atom remains free
• making graphite a good conductor of electricity. Whereas in diamond
• they have no free mobile electron.
• As such each carbon atom is linked with four neighbouring carbon atoms.