GIANT COVALENT STRUCTURES EDEXCEL

1 The element carbon comes in different forms.

The structures of two forms of carbon, graphite and diamond, are shown below.

Although they are both forms of carbon, graphite and diamond have different properties.

Diamond Graphite

(a) Diamond is much harder than graphite. Graphite can conduct electricity but diamond
cannot.

Explain why.

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GIANT COVALENT STRUCTURES EDEXCEL

2 The diagram shows the structure of a material called graphene. It is made of a single layer of
carbon atoms.

(a) Use your knowledge of carbon structures to explain why graphene can conduct electricity.

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3 The diagram shows the structure of a nanotube. Nanotubes are made of hexagonal rings of
carbon atoms.

Nanotubes are very strong and so could be used to make objects like tennis rackets.

(a) Explain why nanotubes are strong.

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