Giant Covalent Substances (Edexcel GCSE Chemistry)

• Giant covalent structures are giant lattices that consist of a huge number of non-metal atoms with strong covalent bonds in a fixed ratio

• Examples of giant covalent structures includee:
  • Diamond
  • Graphite
  • Fullerenes
  • Graphene
• These examples are allotropes of carbon
  • Allotropes are different structural forms of the same element

Diamond

• Diamond and graphite are  allotropes of carbon
• Both substances contain only carbon atoms but due to the differences in bonding arrangements they are physically completely different
• In diamond, each carbon atom bonds with four other carbons, forming a tetrahedron
• All the covalent bonds are identical, very strong and there are no intermolecular forces

Diagram showing the structure and bonding arrangement in diamond

Properties of Diamond

• Diamond has the following physical properties:
  • It does not conduct electricity
  • It has a very high melting point
  • It is extremely hard and has a density of 3.51 g / cm³ – a little higher than that of aluminium

• All the outer shell electrons in carbon are held in the four covalent bonds around each carbon atom, so there are no freely moving charged particles to the current
• The four covalent bonds are very strong and extend in a giant lattice, so a very large amount of heat energy is needed to break the lattice
• Diamond ́s hardness makes it very useful for purposes where extremely tough material is required
• Diamond is used in jewellery and for coating blades in cutting tools
• The cutting edges of discs used to cut bricks and concrete are tipped with diamonds
• Heavy-duty drill bits and tooling equipment are also diamond tipped

Graphite

• Each carbon atom in graphite is bonded to three others forming layers of hexagons, leaving one free electron per carbon atom
• These free electrons migrate along the layers and are free to move and carry charge, hence graphite can conduct electricity
• The covalent bonds within the layers are very strong, but the layers are attracted to each other by weak intermolecular forces, so the layers can slide over each other making graphite soft and slippery

The structure and bonding in graphite

Properties of Graphite

• Graphite has the following physical properties:
  • It conducts electricity and heat
  • It has a very high melting point
  • It is soft and slippery and less dense than diamond (2.25 g / cm³)

• The weak intermolecular forces make it a useful material
• It is used in pencils and as an industrial lubricant, in engines and in locks
• It is also used to make inert electrodes for electrolysis, which is particularly important in the extraction of metals such as aluminium