Question

Interlayer distance in graphite is:

• A. Very small, the layers being tightly packed
• B. Many times larger than the covalent radius of carbon
• C. More than twice the covalent radius of carbon
• D. The same as the covalent radius of carbon

Answer 1

The correct option is C More than twice the covalent radius of carbon

Graphite is composed of flat two - dimensional sheets or layers of carbon atom. Each sheet or layer consists of flat hexagonal rings of C-atoms. In each layer, each C-atom is linked to three C-atoms by a C-C covalent bond. The C-C bond length in each hexagonal ring is $141.5pm$, as each C-atom is $s{p}^2$ hybridised, i.e., only three of the valence electrons of each C-atom are involved in forming $\sigma$ bond (using $s{p}^2$ hybrid orbitals). The fourth electron forms a $\pi$ bond. The $\pi$-electrons are delocalized over the whole sheet, and as they are mobile, graphite conducts heat and electricity.