Why does graphite have a high melting point?

Answer 1

As graphite has a giant lattice structure, it is very hard to break apart. Therefore, high temperatures are required to break these strong bonds to turn it into a liquid state. Thus the melting point of graphite is high, same goes for diamonds.

Even though it is a covalently bonded compound, these 2 examples are the only ones that have high melting points.

The melting point of graphite is 3500 c and 6332 f, specific gravity is 2.25, pounds per cubic inch is .812,

Answer 2

Both diamond and graphite have C-C bonds that link the entire structure together. To melt graphite/diamond, you have to break these covalent bonds throughout the entire structure. (Accounting for very high melting points of both.)

However, diamond and graphite have different structures. In diamond, the carbon atoms are covalently bonded in a rigid tetrahedral structure, and every carbon atom is bonded to four other carbon atoms. Whereas in graphite, the carbon atoms are bonded in layers. Every carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atoms. Between the layers in graphite, there are Van der Waals forces of attraction. So, to make diamond molten, you have to break one more covalent bond (4) than you have to break to make graphite molten (3). Because of this, more energy is needed to make diamond molten, and so diamond has a higher melting point.

:D

Answer 3

Diamond and graphite are allotropic forms of carbon. They burn in the air.

In the chemical/physical litterature a melting point for diamond is mentioned: between 3 600 0C and 4 400 0C, depending on the pressure and of course in an inert gas atmosphere. Similar values for graphite. This would be considered a high meltinhg point by most people.

Answer 4

Its not that diamond and graphite have high melting points but that the elements do.

Think of it this way, Oxygen or O2 has a melting point very very cold. It melts from a solid to a liquid very easily on this earth.

Lead, a metal, has a melting point that is very hot (remember Alien Ressurection movie) but its not too hard to heat it to that temperature. You can actually melt lead on your kitchen stove but I wouldn't recommend that because you can get sick from that.

Iron has a hotter melting point so you cant melt up a pot of iron on your kitchen stove it takes something much hotter to melt iron.

Now Carbon, or in your examples of diamonds and graphite has an even higher melting point. Normally, except in big government or maybe scientific experiments, there isn't a way to melt diamonds.

Plus, even if there was a way, no one really wants to do that. It would be worth a lot of money if we could melt up a bunch of carbon and make a bunch of diamonds without all the trouble it takes.

Answer 5

Like diamond, graphite has a giant molecular structure. As its covalent bonds are very strong, and there are many of them, a lot of energy would be needed to separate atoms. This makes graphite's melting point and boiling point very high.

Answer 6

Graphite has a high melting point because of its strong covalent bonds within the carbon layers, which require a high amount of energy to break. The layers of carbon atoms are held together by weak van der Waals forces, so it takes a considerable amount of heat to overcome this and melt the material.

Answer 7

They both have high melting points because their structure is very strong.

Answer 8

Sodium chloride is an ionic compound.