Q.No.23: Why Diamond is Non conductor and Graphite is Conductor???

Reasoning Question Series
Q.No.23: Why Diamond is Non conductor and Graphite is Conductor???
Ans:
Conduction is movement of heat between objects with the help of electrons.
Due to Structure and Bonding or availability of free electrons
1. In case of Diamond :
Diamond is made up of pure carbon.
In the structure of diamond one carbon atom is attached to four other carbon atoms forming a covalent bond.
All the electrons of each carbon atom is shared and the octet rule is satisfied.
Hence no free electron is left for the conductance of electricity.

2.In case of graphite
the carbon atoms naturally combine covalently with three other carbon atoms so every combined carbon has one unshared or free electron.
Now this free electron is responsible for conductance in graphite. Graphite and metals have free electrons to conduct electricity.
3. There is Localized electrons in Diamond and Delocalized electrons in Graphite. Due to delocalization electrons ,Graphite are conductor.
Regards
Malik Xufyan