Covalent solids or Network solids:

i) These are crystalline solids in which the constituent particles are non-metal atoms linked

to the adjacent atoms by covalent bonds throughout the crystal forming a giant three
dimensional structure.

ii) They are called giant solids and the constituting molecules are called giant molecules.

iii) Covalent bonds are strong and directional, atoms are held strongly at their lattice positions.

iv) Hard or brittle depending on the event of bonding.

v) High melting points.

vi) Good conductors of electricity or insulators depending upon the availability of free
electrons.

Examples: diamond, graphite, Silicon carbide (carborundum), fullerene, boron nitride, etc.

 Insulators

e.g.: Diamond, quartz, SiC, AlN,

 Conductor :- Graphite

• Graphite is soft and a conductor of electricity.

• Its exceptional properties are due to its typical structure

• Carbon atoms are arranged in different layers and each atom is covalently bonded to
three of its neighbouring atoms in the same layer.

• The fourth valence electron of each atom is present between different layers and is free
to move about.

• These free electrons make graphite a good conductor of electricity.

• .
Crystal lattice or space lattice

The regular arrangement of the constituent particles (atoms ,ions or molecules )of a crystal in
three dimensional space is called crystal lattice or space lattice

Characteristics of Crystal lattice:

1. Lattice points or lattice sites: The crystal lattice of a substance is represented by
showing the position of the particle in space. These positions are represented by points
and are referred to as Lattice points or lattice site..
2. Each point in a crystal lattice represents one constituent particle which may be an atom,
a molecule (group of atoms) or an ion.
3. Lattice points are joined by straight lines to bring out the geometry of the molecule