Question

In graphite, electrons are:

• A. Localised on each carbon atom
• B. spread out between the sheets
• C. localised on every third carbon atom
• D. present in antibonding orbital

Answer 1

The correct option is B spread out between the sheets

Each carbon atom uses three of its electrons to form simple bonds to its three close neighbours. That leaves the fourth electron in the bonding level. These "spare" electrons in each carbon atom become delocalized 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.