U10 - Giant covalent structures Flashcards
What are large three dimensional structures held together by
single covalent bonds joining the atoms together in giant covalent
structures
Macromolecules can be divided into two types
Giant covalent
polymers
Describe diamond structure
*each carbon atom is joined to 4 other carbon atoms by covalent bonds.
*difficult to break
*high melting and boiling point
*heated in air, they start reacting
with the oxygen forming CO2
*do not conduct electricity
What are diamonds used for
*cutting and drilling.
*in jewellery because they have a high refractive index when
cut and polished
Describe graphite structure
*allotrope of carbon
*black in colour
*bonded covalently to three other carbon atoms, forming
hexagonal layers
*high melting point
*soft and flaky
Uses for graphite
lubricant
pencil lead.
Structure of silicon
*found a s silicon dioxide, quartz
and sand
*bonded onto 4 oxygen atoms and
each oxygen atom is bonded onto two silicon atoms
*forming a large covalent structure
*high melting and boiling point
*covalent bonds
Properties of Diamond and silicon dioxide
*Clear crystals
*Very hard
*High melting point (must break covalent bonds to separate the atoms)
*Poor conductors of electricity and heat. They have no free electrons that can
*carry the charge.