Question
Question: Diamond and graphite are good conductors of electricity. (A) True (B) False...
Diamond and graphite are good conductors of electricity.
(A) True
(B) False
Solution
Electricity is a free flow of electrons. If the structure of the compound has free electrons, the, it is said to be a good conductor of electricity. Both diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon. Allotropes are compounds which are chemically the same but vary in their physical properties. Different structures give rise to different properties.
Complete step by step solution:
Let us discuss carbon first to understand. Carbon belongs to the II period and XIV group of the periodic table. It is a metalloid and the highest self-linking property. Being the first member of its group, carbon is the smallest size and does not have d-orbitals. It also forms strong bonds with metals, nonmetals and metalloids. Diamond and graphite are large molecules of carbon which do not have a specific formula. Their size completely depends on the extent of their physical structures. The structural difference in diamond and graphite leads to different physical as well as chemical properties.
Let us look at the differences between diamond and graphite via a table which gives us the complete idea of their conductivity:
DIAMOND | GRAPHITE |
---|---|
1. The hybridisation of carbon here is sp3. Therefore it has a tetrahedral structure and it has a crystal structure. ![]() | 1. The hybridisation of carbon is sp2. The structure is trigonal planar. The planes in graphite slip over one another without forming any strong bonding between them.![]() |
Graphite is a good conductor of electricity but Diamond does not conduct electricity.
So, the answer to this question is False, which is option (B).
Note: Diamond and graphite have different physical properties but the chemical properties are similar because both are composed of the same element (carbon).
Carbon has many allotropes and forms, the electrical conductivity of each of them is Buckminster fullerenes is a good electric conductor and Graphene is a good electric conductor.