Chemistry 20
3.5 Structure & Physical Properties of Solids
Part II - Molecular Forms of Carbon
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Diamond
 Figure 14, page 125
Check elements and search for diamond. There are two options here; try
both "large" and "small" to see how they differ.
Graphite & Diamond - Why is Graphite soft and Diamond hard if both are pure carbon?
1. Describe the layered structure of graphite and explain how it
contributes to its soft and slippery properties.
(2 points)
2. Each carbon atom is bonded to how many other carbon atoms in
graphite? (1 point)
3. Describe the structure of diamond and explain how it contributes to its
hardness and high melting point.
(2 points)
4. Each carbon atom is bonded to how many other carbon atoms in
diamond?
(1 point)
5. Graphite is can be described as
a. hard and crystalline
b. soft and slippery
c. a dark liquid
d. made only of carbon and
hydrogen atoms
6. Diamond is
a. made only of carbon and
hydrogen atoms
b. the hardest substance known to
man
c. soft and slippery
d. clear and brittle
7. What makes diamond so hard?
a. diamond has a crystal structure
similar to ice
b. diamond is made up of only
carbon atoms
c. the C-C bonds all have different
bond lengths
d. a rigid network of atoms that
cannot move

8. Which statement best describes why
graphite is soft?
a. graphite is made up of only
carbon atoms
b. graphite is layered
c. graphite has a low melting
point
d. none of the above
9. Which of the following statements is
not correct
a. both carbon and diamond are
made of only carbon atoms
b. graphite has only weak forces
between its layers
c. graphite and diamond have the
same density
d. in diamond each carbon is the
same distance to each of its
neighboring carbon atoms
Figure 17, page 127
Carbon can have many different
forms, even as a pure element.
There are several links below that
will show you the various structures
of elemental carbon.
Mathmol: Carbon Section
Diamond
10. What is diamond’s score on Moh’s Hardness Scale?
(1 point)
11. What two other materials may also be as hard as diamond?
12. What is the origin of the name “diamond”?
(2 points)
(2 points)
13. Diamonds typically crystallize in the cubic crystal system and consist of ____________________
bonded carbon atoms. (1 point)
14. Diamond is a good electrical insulator but, unlike most insulators, is a good conductor of heat.
Why? (1 point)
15. Which two elements may be present in natural blue diamonds? (2 points)
16. What is the cause of the colouration in coloured diamonds? How do pure diamonds compare?
(2 points)
17. Explain how diamonds were discovered to be made of pure carbon.
18. Under what conditions do diamonds form deep within the Earth?
(2 points)
(1 point)
Fullerene
19. What are four different forms fullerenes can take?
(1 point)
20. How are fullerenes similar to graphite? How are they different? (2 points)
21. What shape is similar to buckminsterfullerenes, C60? (hence the origin of its name) (1 point)
22. What sports ball does the truncated icosahedron C 60 resemble? What two shapes
are present on the surface of both these structures? (2 points)
23. Where might fullerenes occur outside a laboratory environment? (1 point)
24. What are two potential medicinal uses of fullerenes? (1 point)
Graphite
25. List five differences between diamond and graphite: (5 points)
Fullerene
26. What are carbon nanotubes? Name two physical properties of these
nanotubes.
(3 points)
27. What is the diameter of a carbon nanotube? Use the simulation to
measure between carbon atoms.
(1 point)
28. What is nanotechnology? Provide four examples.
(5 points)
29. Is nanotechnology itself new, say within the past year? Explain.
(2 points)
30. What are the applications for nanotubes? Provide three examples.
(3 points)
31. What is a long term objective of nanotechnology? How close are we to this objective? Explain.
(2 points)