Question

Explain the difference in properties of diamond and graphite on the basis of their structures.

Answer 1

Hint: An allotrope is another form of the same element having different physical properties but the same chemical properties.
For example, Graphite and diamond are two different allotropes of carbon. They are different in physical properties but resemble carbon in chemical properties.

Complete step-by-step answer:

DIAMOND	GRAPHITE
1) It has a crystalline structure.	1) It has a layered structure.
2) It is made up of tetrahedral units.	2) It has a planar geometry.
3) In diamond, each carbon atom is ${ sp }^{ 3 }$ hybridized and is bonded to four other carbon atoms through a sigma bond.	3) In graphite, each carbon atom is ${ sp }^{ 2 }$ hybridized and is bonded to three other carbon atoms through a sigma bond while the fourth electron forms a ${ \Pi }$-bond.
4) The C-C bond length in the diamond is ${ 154pm }$.	4) The C-C bond length in the graphite is ${ 141.5pm }.$.
5) It has a rigid covalent bond network which is difficult to break.	5) It is quite soft and its layers can be separated easily.
6) It acts as an electric insulator.	6) It is a good conductor of electricity.

Note: The possibility to make a mistake is that Graphite and Diamond are the allotropes of carbon and they are not the isotopes of each other. Allotropes are the different forms of an element having different physical properties while isotopes are the atoms of an element having the same atomic number but different atomic mass.