Graphite (Oxford AQA IGCSE Combined Science Double Award)

Properties of Graphite

• Graphite is made from carbon atoms and has a giant covalent structure 

• Each carbon atoms forms three strong covalent bonds with other carbon atoms forming layers

• There are no covalent bonds between the layers

  • This means that the layers can slide over each other

  • Therefore, graphite is soft and slippery

Extension Tier Only

What are the properties of graphite?

• Graphite is soft and slippery

  • Each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atom forming layers 

  • The layers are free to slide over each other because there are only weak forces between the layers, not covalent bonds 

• Graphite can conduct electricity and heat   

  • Due to each carbon atom only forming three bonds, one electron from each carbon atom is delocalised 

  • The delocalised electrons are free to move 

  • Graphite is similar to metals in that it has delocalised electrons  

• Graphite has a high melting point because:

  • It has a giant covalent structure 

  • There are strong covalent bonds between atoms which need lots of energy to break 

Bonding and structure in graphite