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
Answered by Leah O. Chemistry tutor

2886 Views

See similar Chemistry GCSE tutors

Related Chemistry GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe the bonding between sodium and chlorine in NaCl


Why is iodine a solid at room temperature and chlorine a gas, despite being in the same group?


Calculate the number of moles of carbon dioxide molecules in 11 g of CO2.


An atom of an element has the electronic structure 2,8,8,2. What is its atomic number?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning