Chapter 12, Problem 62E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The glass cutting ability of diamond needs to be explained. Whether graphite shows this glass cutting ability or not needs to be determined.

Concept introduction:

Diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon. Each carbon atom is connected to four other carbon atoms with covalent bonds and closely packed to each other. Therefore, diamond is hard, rigid 3D structure.

Graphite arranged in an infinite array as diamond, but it consist a layered structure. One carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atoms. These planar arrays are held together by stacking interactions which are weaker forces. The distance between two layers is larger than distance between carbon atoms within each layer. This 3D structure accounts for the softness of graphite.