Question

Graphite is a soft solid lubricant extremely difficult to melt. The reason for this anomalous behavior is that graphite :

• A. has molecules of variable molecular masses like polymers.
• B. has carbon atoms arranged in large plated of rings of strongly bonded carbon atoms with weak inter plate bonds.
• C. is a non-crystalline substance.
• D. is an allotropic form of diamond.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

has carbon atoms arranged in large plated of rings of strongly bonded carbon atoms with weak inter plate bonds.

Each carbon atom in graphite uses three of its electrons to form simple bonds to its three close neighbors. That leaves a fourth electron in the bonding level.

These "spare" electrons in each carbon atom become delocalised over the whole of the sheet of atoms in one layer. They are no longer associated directly with any particular atom or pair of atoms, but are free to wander throughout the whole sheet.

So it has carbon atoms arranged in large plated of rings of strongly bonded carbon atoms with weak inter plate bonds.

Hence option B is correct.