Question

The density of graphite is:
A.) $3.52gc{m^{ - 3}}$
B.) $2.3gc{m^{ - 3}}$
C.) $1.2gc{m^{ - 3}}$
D.) $4.2gc{m^{ - 3}}$

Answer 1

Hint: The graphite is one of the crystalline forms of the carbon. In graphite the atoms are arranged in a hexagonal structure. The density of graphite is less than the density of the diamond.

Complete step by step answer:
In this question, graphite is a naturally occurring form of the crystalline carbon. There are mainly three forms of carbon that are found in nature. These are diamond, graphite and fullerene().
 In diamond, the carbon atoms are arranged into an infinite three-dimensional array in which each carbon atom is linked to four other carbon atoms. It is the hardest known chemical substance.
Graphite is a form of carbon in which hexagonal structured layers slide over each other. Graphite is the most stable form of carbon under standard conditions. This makes graphite slippery. In graphite, each carbon atom is linked to three other carbon atoms.
The fullerene, the carbon atoms are joined together in sheets of hexagonal rings. Fullerene resembles graphite in a way that carbon atoms are joined together in sheets of hexagonal rings but in fullerene some of the carbon rings have five or more atoms in them forming pentagons and heptagons. This forces the sheet of linked rings into the shape of a hollow sphere. That is why fullerene appears as a hollow sphere.
The density of graphite is $2.3gc{m^{ - 3}}$ and that of diamond is $3.52gc{m^{ - 3}}$.
Hence, B is the correct option.

Note:
Always remember that the density of diamond is more than the density of the graphite because in graphite each carbon atom is attached to other three carbon atoms and in diamond each carbon atom is attached to other four carbon atoms. In diamond, the arrangement is held more strongly.