Giant covalent structure

1. Graphite
Description:
Graphite is a giant covalent structure
containing carbon atoms, joined to adjacent
carbon atoms by covalent bonds.
Each carbon atom forms 3 covalent bonds
with each carbon in layers.
The layers can slide past each other and
delocalised electrons allow conduction.
Properties:
•Strong
•High melting point
•Giant structure
•Conducts electricity
•Lubricant
Layers can slide past each other.

2. Diamond
Description:
Diamond is a giant covalent structure
containing carbon atoms, joined to adjacent
carbon atoms by covalent bonds.
Each carbon atom forms 4 covalent bonds
with each carbon.
Making it hard but non-conductive.
Properties:
•Strong
•High melting point
•Giant structure
•Lattice Structure
•Non-conductive
Each carbon forms 4 covalent
bonds

3. Buckminster Fullerenes
Description:
Carbon-60 or the Buckminster
Fullerene is a closed carbon cage
that was isolated and synthesised
from common soot.
Properties:
•Strong (stronger than diamond)
•Stable (maintain shape)
•High melting point
•High boiling point
•1 nanometre in diameter (1nm)
‘Bucky Ball’

4. Carbon Nanotubes
Description:
Carbon Nanotubes or CNT’s
are flexible carbon tubes, synthesised
from half an atom of Buckminster
fullerene.
Properties:
•Flexible
•Strong
•Conduct electricity
•High melting point
•High boiling point
•1 nanometre in diameter (1nm)
CNT’s are essentially just half a
‘Bucky ball’.