Question

Graphite is an example of
(A) Ionic solid
(B) Covalent solid
(C) Vander Waals solid
(D) Metallic solid

Answer 1

Hint:Graphite is an example for allotrope of carbon. In graphite the hybridization of carbon is . In graphite sheets there is a weak force of attraction between the sheets. The weak force of attraction is called Vander waals force of attraction.

Complete step by step solution:
> In graphite all carbons are attached to one another through a nonpolar bond due to the same electronegativity of carbon atoms.
> The non-polar bond between the carbon atoms in graphite is called covalent bond.
> Graphite is solid in nature, shows covalent bonding and it acts as a good conductor of electricity.
- Coming to given options, option A, ionic solid. It is wrong because there is no ionic bond in graphite.
- Coming to option C, Vander Waals solid. It is also wrong because the bond between the carbons in graphite is covalent bond not Vander waals bond.
- Coming to option D, Metallic solid, it is also wrong because carbon is not a metal.
- Coming to option B. Covalent solid. It is correct because the bond between the carbons in graphite is covalent bond.
- Therefore graphite is covalent solid.

So, the correct answer is B.

Note: Don’t be confused with the terms covalent bond and ionic bond.
Covalent bond: Covalent bonds are formed between atoms by equal sharing of electrons.
Ionic Bond: Ionic bonding is a chemical bond in which electrons are lost from one atom and gained by another atom.