In graphite each carbon atom is attached to _____ nearest carbon atoms while in diamond each carbon atom is attached to _____ nearest carbon atoms.

Concept:

• Depending on the conditions of formation like temperature and pressure, different compounds of the same element may be formed.
• These compounds are called allotropes and the element is said to exhibit allotropy.
• Carbon occurs in nature abundantly in both free and compound forms.
• Carbon has allotropes in crystalline as well as amorphous forms.
• The allotropes of carbon like diamond, graphite, etc are crystalline solid but wood, stone are non-crystalline solid.

Explanation:

• Graphite:
  • Graphite is an allotropic form of carbon that has units of six carbon atoms grouped together.
  • The units are arranged in a hexagonal arrangement in which each of the carbon atoms is attached to the neighboring three carbon atoms.
  • Graphite has layers of carbons that can slip on each other and thus it is slippery in nature.
  • Graphite is lustrous and brittle in nature.
  • The structure of graphite is given as follows:

• Diamond:
  • Diamond is also an allotrope of carbon that is formed under high pressure.
  • Each Carbon atom in diamond is tetrahedrally arranged which means one carbon atom is attached to four other carbon atoms forming a tetrahedron.
  • The structure is given as follows:

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• Diamond is very hard in nature and has many industrial purposes.

Hence, in graphite, each carbon atom is attached to the three nearest carbon atoms while in diamond each carbon atom is attached to the four nearest carbon atoms.