Question

Why is graphite a good conductor of electricity and a good lubricant?

Answer 1

Hint: To solve this question we should know about:
Conductor: A conductor is a material or thing that permits charge to flow in one or more directions. Metals are commonly used as electrical conductors.
Lubricant: When placed as a layer between solid surfaces, a substance (such as grease) capable of reducing friction, heat, and wear.

Complete step by step solution:
Each carbon in graphite is $s{p^2}$ hybridised. A hexagonal array is formed when each carbon atom is connected to three other carbon atoms in the same plane. The valency of carbon is satisfied because one of these bonds is a double-bond. The hexagonal arrays are stacked one on top of the other to make the graphite structure.
Graphite structure: As a result, these layers can slide over each other, giving graphite a slick surface. As a result, it's employed as a lubricant.
Graphite is a good electrical conductor. This feature is primarily due to its structure. Only three carbon atoms are physically bonded to each other in graphite by covalent bonds. As a result, only three of a carbon atom's four valence electrons are used for bonding, while the fourth is relatively loose and can travel from one carbon atom to another. Graphite is a good conductor of electricity and a good lubricant because of these free electrons.

Note:
In valence bond theory, orbital hybridisation (or hybridization) is the concept of combining atomic orbitals into new hybrid orbitals (with different energies, shapes, and other properties than the component atomic orbitals) suited for electron pairing to create chemical bonds. Example, The valence-shell s orbital mixes with three valence-shell p orbitals to generate four equivalent $s{p^3}$ mixtures that are organised in a tetrahedral pattern around the carbon to attach to four distinct atoms in a carbon atom that forms four single bonds. Hybrid orbitals are symmetrically placed in space and are useful in explaining molecular geometry and atomic bonding features.