Diamond and Graphite are both giant covalent structures. If they are both made of carbon why does diamond have a higher melting point?

Although both are giant covalent structures, they have different structures. Diamond makes a 3d structure with each carbon attached to 4 other carbons so the only bond to break when melting it is the very strong covalent bond. Graphite forms giant 2d structures made of these strong covalent bonds but then forms layers joined by intermolecular forces. These intermolecular forces are weaker than the covalent bond and so are easier to break with less energy. This explains why the melting point of graphite is lower.

ZF

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

What mass of sodium hydroxide would need to be dissolved to make 100 cm^3 of a 0.5 mol dm^-3 solution? (3 marks)


What is a catalyst?


An isotope of Nitrogen has an atomic number of 7 and a mass number of 15. How many protons, neutrons and electrons will each atom have?does


Explain, in terms of sub-atomic particles, why the mass number of a magnesium atom is 24.