Why can graphite conduct electricity but diamond cant?

Electricity is the movement of charge and therefore something charged must move to carry this charge. graphite carbon atoms make 3 covalent bonds with the adjacent atoms however carbon has 4 electrons in its outer shell (its in group 4) (if needed explain the periodic table and structure of the atom) which leaves one electron free to move across the molecule and carry the charge. diamond makes 4 bonds and therefore there are no free electrons to carry the charge.

LO

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

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


Explain why ionic compounds such as potassium sulfide have high boiling points and conduct electricity when dissolved in water?


Balance the Following Equation: __H2SO4 + __NaOH ---> __Na2SO4 + __H2O


In terms of structure and bonding, explain why graphite is able to conduct electricity.