levo

Key Concepts in Chemistry

Graphite and diamond

  • 1 thing to know
  • Papers 3 and 4

Overview

The bonding and arrangement of carbon atoms in diamond and graphite, the delocalised electrons in graphite, and how structure explains graphite's use for electrodes and as a lubricant, diamond's use in cutting tools, and graphite's softness yet high melting point.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started
Key term

Describe the arrangement of the carbon atoms in diamond.

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    How many covalent bonds does each carbon atom form in diamond?

    Model answer

    Four.

  2. 2

    Describe the arrangement of the carbon atoms in diamond.

    Model answer

    Each carbon atom is bonded to four others in a rigid three-dimensional lattice.

  3. 3

    How many other carbon atoms is each carbon atom bonded to in graphite?

    Model answer

    Three.

  4. 4

    Describe the arrangement of the carbon atoms in graphite.

    Model answer

    They form flat layers of hexagonal rings, with only weak forces holding the layers together.

  5. 5

    What happens to the fourth outer electron of each carbon atom in graphite?

    Model answer

    It becomes delocalised and can move through the layer.

  6. 6

    Are there any delocalised electrons in diamond?

    Model answer

    No, all four outer electrons of every carbon atom are used in covalent bonds.

Other ways to work this

The same content, four other ways.

What is inside Levo

Six ways to work the same material.

1Closed book
2Open book
3Closed book

The 3-step method, run for you

Answer cold, learn it, then prove it stuck. Levo tracks the jump between your first attempt and your last.

Key Concepts in Chemistry
States of Matter and Mixtures
Chemical Changes
Extracting Metals and Equilibria

Cram a whole paper in one sitting

Sort every topic into what you know and what you do not, then drill only the weak ones.

Hydrogen is formed.
chloridebromideiodide

Blank Blitz makes facts automatic

Rapid timed gap-fills on the terms and numbers you need to recall without thinking.

AChlorine is a pale green gas at room temperature.
BBromine is a red-brown liquid at room temperature.
CIodine is a dark grey solid at room temperature.

Build It gets the exam shape right

Assemble a full-mark answer from its marking points, in the order an examiner wants them.

A neutral solution has a pH of 7.
TrueFalse

Test It catches misconceptions

Spot the fault in a statement. The traps are the mistakes students actually make.

721941163128510

Brain Breaks between sessions

Short focus games to reset attention, so the next set lands better than the last.

Every question in Key Concepts in Chemistry, on a schedule.

Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.

Or £46 a year, about £3.83 a month. Cancel anytime.