By Kamal Ahmad LGS OPF

Topic: Structure and properties of materials

Element:
If in a piece of substance, all the atoms are same then it is element. e.g Sodium (Na), iron (Fe), chlorine (Cl 2)
etc

Compound:
When atoms of different elements are combined, a compound is formed. e.g. water (H 2O), sodium chloride
(NaCl), carbon dioxide (CO2) etc

Mixture:
When two or more different substances (elements or compounds) are mixed together in any ratio then it is
called a mixture. e.g (water + sugar), (iron + carbon), Air (a mixture of gases) etc.

Difference between compound and mixture

Compound Mixture
Compound has fixed composition of elements Mixture has no fixed composition of
by mass components
Compound cannot be separated by simple Mixture can be separated by simple physical
physical methods methods
When compound is formed, there is an energy When mixture is formed, there is no energy
change (either heat is released or absorbed) change
Properties of a compound are different from Properties of a mixture are same as that of
those of elements the its components

Macromolecules or Giant covalent structures

When a large number of atoms of same or different elements are connected with each other through
covalent bonds then this is called macromolecules/giant covalent structure.

Important macromolecules
Diamond (C)
 Diamond is made up of a large number of C atoms linked through covalent bonds in 3-dimensional
network
 Structure of diamond is tetrahedral

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 By Kamal Ahmad LGS OPF
Properties
1- Very high melting & boiling point
Reason:
A lot of energy is required to break the network (large number) of strong covalent bonds present in diamond.
2- Non-conductor of current
Reason:
There are no free electrons are present in diamond
(C has 4 electrons in its valence shell. It shares all its 4 electrons to make 4 covalent bonds with nearby carbon
atoms so there is no free electron in diamond).
3- Very hard
Reason:
A large number of strong covalent bonds are present in diamond and it is difficult to break these bonds. So,
diamond is used in cutting tools.
4- Insoluble in water
Note: As silicon (Si) is also present in group IV (below carbon) so, structure and properties of Si are similar to
diamond.

Sand, SiO2 (Silicon dioxide)

In sand, a large number of Si and O atoms are connected through covalent bonds to form a giant molecule.
Structure of sand is also tetrahedral (similar to diamond).

Properties (similar to diamond)

1- Very high melting point
Reason:
A lot of energy is required to break the network (large number) of strong covalent bonds present in sand.
Note: Melting point of sand is lower than diamond because covalent bonds of sand are slightly weaker than
diamond. Some other materials like Boron nitride (BN) and silicon carbide (SiC) also have tetrahedral
structure similar to diamond so their properties are also similar to diamond.
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 By Kamal Ahmad LGS OPF
2- Non-conductor of current
Reason:
No free electrons are present in sand
3- Insoluble in water

Graphite (C)
Carbon atoms are covalently bonded with each other in the form of hexagons (6 corner shape).

These hexagons are present in the form of layers (layered structure).

There are weak intermolecular forces of attraction between layers of hexagons.

Graphite is a black shiny material.

Structure of graphite is,

Properties
1- High melting point
Reason: A lot of energy is required to break the network (large number) of strong covalent bonds present in
graphite.
2- Conductor of current
Reason: Free electrons are present in the layers of hexagons
(C has 4 electrons in its valence shell. It shares only 3 electrons to make 3 covalent bonds with nearby carbon
atoms so there are free electrons present in the graphite)
3- Slippery
Graphite feels slippery to the touch therefore can be used as lubricant.
Reason: There are weak intermolecular forces of attraction between the layers so they slide over each other.