Question

Ishita wanted to select one of the allotropic forms of carbon as a lubricant for fast moving machinery parts. Which material should she use and why?

(Hint: Recall the structure and uses of crystalline forms of carbon.)

Answer 1

Lubricant:

• A lubricant is a substance that when introduced between two sliding surfaces in contact, reduces friction and provides protection from damage.

Crystalline forms of Carbon:

• Carbon shows allotropic properties and can exist in 2 allotropic forms; crystalline and amorphous.
• Crystalline forms of carbon are; Diamond, Graphite, and Fullerene.
• Among the above-mentioned crystalline forms of carbon, graphite being slippery in nature is widely used as a lubricant. Graphite possesses a layered structure of carbon atoms with weak covalent bonds. This allows the layers of graphite to slide over each other, making it soft and slippery. Therefore creating a lubricant effect.

Hence, due to these mentioned properties of graphite, it is widely used as a lubricant for fast-moving machinery parts to reduce friction and protect the machine parts from wear and damage.