Carbon naturally occurs in two forms: diamond and graphite. Which of the following best explains why these two forms have very different properties?

The key difference is that diamonds have other elements bonded within their structure.

The differences are explained by the number of covalent and ionic bonds within each substance.

The differences are explained by the density: graphite is very high and diamond is much lower.

The differences are explained by how the carbon atoms within each substance are covalently bonded together.

Question

Carbon naturally occurs in two forms: diamond and graphite. Which of the following best explains why these two forms have very different properties?

 The key difference is that diamonds have other elements bonded within their structure.

 The differences are explained by the number of covalent and ionic bonds within each substance.

 The differences are explained by the density: graphite is very high and diamond is much lower.

 The differences are explained by how the carbon atoms within each substance are covalently bonded together.

aaronq · Answer

what do their structures look like?

preetha · Answer

Well, if you look at the options, keep in mind that the question has told you that both diamond and graphite are forms of carbon.  So diamond and graphite have only carbon aoms bonded to each other - the difference is in the number of covalent bonds around the c atoms.  In diamond, each c atom has 4 bonds around it and in graphite, there are 3 bonds.  Diamond is sp3 hybridized and graphite is sp2 hybridized.