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The table shows carbon can exist as several different structures called allotropes - OCR Gateway - GCSE Chemistry - Question 16 - 2021 - Paper 3
Question 16
The table shows carbon can exist as several different structures called allotropes. Complete the table to show how many covalent bonds carbon forms in these allotro... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:The table shows carbon can exist as several different structures called allotropes - OCR Gateway - GCSE Chemistry - Question 16 - 2021 - Paper 3
Step 1
Step 2
Explain why diamond is so hard.
Answer
Diamond is known for its exceptional hardness due to its strong covalent bonding. Each carbon atom in diamond is tetrahedrally bonded to four other carbon atoms, forming a rigid three-dimensional network.
This structure requires a significant amount of energy to break the bonds, giving diamond its hardness. The absence of weak intermolecular forces in diamond also contributes to its strength.
Step 3
Explain why graphite is slippery.
Answer
Graphite is slippery because it consists of layers of carbon atoms that are bonded together by strong covalent bonds within each layer.
However, the layers themselves are held together by weaker van der Waals forces. This allows the layers to slide over one another easily when pressure is applied, making graphite an effective lubricant.