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11OL2 - Giant Covalent Structures

This document discusses giant covalent structures, providing examples of diamond, graphite, silica, and buckminsterfullerene. It explains that in diamond, carbon atoms are arranged in a structure where each is bonded to four other carbons, making it extremely hard. In graphite, carbon atoms form layers that can slip, making it soft. It describes the properties and uses of each material, noting that graphite is used in pencils and lubricants while diamond is used in cutting and polishing tools.

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Anna McCrerie
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207 views9 pages

11OL2 - Giant Covalent Structures

This document discusses giant covalent structures, providing examples of diamond, graphite, silica, and buckminsterfullerene. It explains that in diamond, carbon atoms are arranged in a structure where each is bonded to four other carbons, making it extremely hard. In graphite, carbon atoms form layers that can slip, making it soft. It describes the properties and uses of each material, noting that graphite is used in pencils and lubricants while diamond is used in cutting and polishing tools.

Uploaded by

Anna McCrerie
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Giant Covalent Structures

Learning Objectives
All students should be able to:
• List examples of substances with giant covalent structures.
• State the physical properties of graphite and diamond.

Most students should be able to:


• Recognise giant covalent structures.
• Explain the physical properties of diamond and graphite, such as
melting point and hardness, in terms of their structures.

Some students should also be able to:


• Explain in detail what a giant covalent structure is.
A Real Diamond Geezer
Giant Covalent Structures:

Diamond: Find an image of the bonding in diamond.


Use it to explain why diamond is hard.
Give some uses of diamond, and explain how its properties mean that it is good at
this job.
This diamond used to
be a man:
Graphite: Find an image of the bonding in graphite.
Use it to explain:
How is this possible?
Why graphite is a soft, slippery material.
Why it can conduct heat and electricity.
Give some uses of graphite, and explain how its properties mean that it is good at this
job.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_6500000/newsid_6504800/650
Find some more examples of giant covalent structures.
4813.stm?bw=bb&mp=wm&news=1&bbcws=1
Covalent Compounds
• not all covalent compounds are made of
simple molecules.
• Can form giant covalent structures
Graphite
• Graphite is a form of carbon in which the
carbon atoms form layers.
• These layers can slide over each other, so
graphite is much softer than diamond.
• Each carbon atom in a layer is joined to
only three other carbon atoms.

Properties
• Softer than diamond.
• High melting point.
• Graphite conducts electricity.

Uses
It is used in pencils, and as a lubricant.
Diamond
• Diamond is a form of
carbon in which each carbon
atom is joined to four other
carbon atoms, forming a giant
covalent structure.

Properties
• Very hard
• High melting point (4000˚C)
• Does not conduct electricity.
Uses
- Jewellry
- cutting and grinding tools such as drill bits and saws
- abrasives that cut and polish other materials,
including other gemstones
- fine engraving tools with detailed precision
Other Giant Covalent Structures
Silica
• Silica, which is found in sand, has a similar structure to
diamond. It is also hard and has a high melting point, but
contains silicon and oxygen atoms, instead of carbon atoms.
• The fact that it is a semi-conductor makes it immensely
useful in the electronics industry: most transistors are made
of silica.

Buckminsterfullerene
• Structure of a buckminsterfullerene molecule - a large ball of
60 atoms
• Buckminsterfullerene is yet another allotrope of carbon. It is
actually not a giant covalent structure, but a giant molecule
in which the carbon atoms form pentagons and hexagons - in
a similar way to a leather football. It is used in lubricants.
Plenary
Cut and stick the diagrams in your books, then use the boxes to label each diagram

Carbon atoms

Carbon atoms

Atoms arranged in
layers

Atoms connected Silica


to 4 other atoms

Diamond
Graphite
Arrangement
makes it hard
Layers slip over
Buckminster
each other which
fullerene
make it soft

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