What is it about the structure and bonding of graphite that allows it to conduct electricity?
Graphite has a giant covalent structure consisting of layers of carbon atoms. Carbon atoms have 4 valence electrons that are available for bonding. In graphite, each carbon atom is covalently bonded to 3 other carbon atoms. Therefore, every carbon atom has 1 electron that is not used for bonding. These extra electrons are delocalised, or free to move, in the area between layers of carbon atoms. As these electrons are free to move they are able to carry charge and thus graphite can conduct electricity.
CD
Related Chemistry GCSE answers
All answers ▸what is an ion? and how are they made?
Why can metals conduct electricty?
Potassium forms an ionic compound with sulfur.Describe what happens when two atoms of potassium react with one atom of sulfur. Give your answer in terms of electron transfer. Give the formulae of the ions formed
What techniques would you use to separate: 1) different colour inks from black ink. 2) ethanol from ethanol and water 3) salt from water