Question

Graphite is the only non-metal which is a good conductor of electricity.
[A] True
[B] False

Answer 1

Hint: Graphite is an allotrope of carbon. The carbon atoms are arranged in a hexagonal structure. Each carbon atom is attached to three other carbon atoms covalently and thus there is one free delocalised electron.

Complete step by step answer:
We define metals and non-metals based on various properties they possess like metals are lustrous while non-metals are dull, metals are malleable and ductile whereas non-metals are not and metals are a good conductor of electricity but non-metals are not a good conductor of electricity.
Examples of metals are gold, silver, aluminium, sodium etc. and non-metals are wood, iodine, phosphorus etc.
However, there are some exceptions to these properties of metals and non-metals. For example, iodine is a non-metal but it is not dull, it has a shiny, lustrous appearance, aluminium is a metal but a poor conductor of electricity.

In the question we have that graphite is the only non-metal which can conduct electricity.
Graphite is a crystalline allotrope of carbon and it has a slippery surface. In graphite, the carbon atoms are arranged in a hexagonal structure and each carbon atom is attached to three other carbon atoms.
We know that carbon has four valence electrons in its outermost shell. In graphite each carbon is bonded to three other carbon atoms hence leaving behind a free electron. Due to the presence of this one delocalised electron, graphite is a good conductor of electricity.
However, graphite is the only non-metal that can conduct electricity.
So, the correct answer is “Option A”.

Note: Graphite and diamond both are allotropes of carbon however diamond does not conduct electricity as graphite. This is due to the fact that in diamond all the electrons in the valence shell of carbon are engaged to form a covalent bond with four other carbon atoms. Thus, there is no free electron in diamond like graphite.