Giant Covalent Bonding

Bonding Topic- Giant Covalent Bonding

What is Giant Covalent Bonding?

• Giant covalent structures contain many atoms, each joined to adjacent atoms by covalent bonds. The atoms are usually arranged into giant regular lattices - extremely strong structures because of the many bonds involved.
• The giant covalent structures you must know for GCSE are diamond, graphite and carbon nanotubes. All of the things are 'allotropes' of carbon.

Diamond and It's Properties

• Diamond is a giant covalent structure and in it, each carbon atom is covalently bonded to four other carbon atoms. It has a 3D lattice structure, as seen on slide 1. This means that;
• It has a high melting and boiling point due the strong covalent bonds.
• It is extremely hard
• It can not conduct electricity because it has no free electrons
• It is used for drill bits due to it's extreme strength and durability.

Graphite and It's Properties.

• Graphite is a giant covalent structure and in it, each carbon atom is covalently bonded to three other carbon atoms, one is unbonded. This means it forms in hexagonal layers which are held together by weak forces. The properties are;
• Can conduct electricity due to the delocalised electrons between layers.
• High melting and boiling points
• Soft because due to delocalised electrons layers can slide over eachother
• uses- pencils

Carbon nano-tubes and their properties.

• Carbon nanotubes are cylinders made up of pure carbon molecules, whose unique properties make them very attractive to many different industries. Their properties are;
• They can conduct electricity and can be used to make miniature electrical circuits
• They are extremely strong