GIANT COVALENT LATTICE STRUCTURES

GIANT COVALENT LATTICE STRUCTURES

1. DIAMOND

   • each carbon atom has 4 covalent bonds with four other carbon atoms in ALL DIRECTIONS
     • very hard
       • used for drill tips
     • rigid structure
   • no delocalised electrons
     • can't carry electric current

2. GRAPHITE

   • each carbon atom has 3 covalent bonds
     • each carbon atom has one delocalised, free electron
       • conducts heat and electricity
   • layers of atoms
     • slide over each other
       • soft and slippery
     • weak intermolecular forces between layers

3. GENERAL FACTS

   • no charged ions
   • all atoms are bonded to each other by strong covalent bonds
     • lots of energy needed to break bonds
       • very high melting/boiling points

4. SILICA

   • giant covalent lattice structure
   • lining of furnaces
     • very high melting point
   • silicon dioxide

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