Why is a diamond harder than graphite if they're made of the same substance?

Both diamond and graphite are made of carbon. Carbon can form a maximum of 4 covalent bonds due to carbon having 4 electrons on it's outer shell. In diamond, each carbon atom forms 4 covalent bonds in a tetrahedral structure. Whereas, in graphite the carbon atoms only form 3 covalent bonds, creating hexagonally packed sheets of carbon. The sheets of carbon become bonded by weaker intermolecular forces. It is because of these weak intermolecular forces that the layersof graphite can slide over eachother, making the overall substance a lot weaker than diamond.

CC

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

describe in terms of electrons what happens when magnesium oxide is formed from magnesium and oxygen atoms?


Why do metals conduct electricity?


Why are metals good conductors?


Sodium hydroxide sol'n solution is poured into a beaker of hydrochloric acid which contains a thermometer showing room temperature. a) What is the name of the product produced? b) What type of reaction does the thermometer's temperature rise prove?