Question

How does graphite conduct electricity?

Answer 1

In graphite, each carbon atom is only covalently bonded to three other carbon atoms, rather than to four as in diamond. Graphite contains layers of carbon atoms. The layers slide over each other easily because there are only weak forces between them, making graphite slippery.

Graphite contains delocalised electrons (free electrons). These electrons can move through the graphite, carrying charge from place to place and allowing graphite to conduct electricity.