1
Q
What are the properties of a diamond?
A
- lustrous
- colourless
- very high melting point
- doesn’t conduct electricity
- hard
2
Q
What is the structure pf a diamond?
A
- each carbon forms four covalent bonds in a very rigid giant covalent structure making it really hard
- the strong covalent bonds take lots of energy to break, giving diamond an very high melting point
- no free electrons or ions, so no conducting electricity
3
Q
What is the structure of graphite?
A
- each carbon atom form three covalent bonds, creating sheets of carbon atoms which are free to slide over each other
- layers held together weakly so they are slippery and can be rubbed off (how pencils work)
- lots of energy needed to break covalent bonds so high melting point
- since only three out of each carbons’ four outer electrons are used in bonds, there are lots of delocalised (spare) electrons that can move, conducts electricity
4
Q
What are the properties of graphite?
A
-black
-opaque
-kind of shiny
-rubs off on paper
-high melting point
conducts electricity
5
Q
What are the uses of diamonds and why?
A
- cutting tool because high melting point and hardness
- jewellery because lustrous
6
Q
What are the uses of graphite and why?
A
- pencils as layers are slippery and can be rubbed off
- lubricating material, as slippery
7
Q
What are giant molecular structures
A
- usually don’t conduct electricity because there aren’t any fee electrons (graphite is an exception)
- carbon can form giant molecular structures because it can form lots of covalent bonds with itself
- all the covalent bonds give giant molecular structures strength, high melting point and they do not dissolve in water
8
Q
What are nanotubes?
A
- tiny hollow carbon tubes
- huge surface area, so can make great industrial catalysts (individual catalyst molecules cab be attached to the nanotubes)
9
Q
What are fullerenes?
A
- molecules of carbon
- shaped like closed tubes or hollow balls
- used to cage other molecules, fullerene structure forms around another atom or molecule which is then trapped inside
- could be a new way of delivering drugs in the body, e.g.slow release
10
Q
What are allotropes?
A
-different structural forms of the same element in the same physical stat, e.g. they’re all solids
