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 ▸Why do metals conduct electricity?
Describe the three main types of bonding?
Could you explain how an increased temperature increases the rate of reaction?
Technetium is an element commonly used in medicine. A technetium atom is represented as ^99 _43 Tc. Give the number of protons, neutrons and electrons in this atom of technetium.