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Diamond is considered the hardest mineral known to man, while graphite is one of the softest. Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, while graphite is a good conductor of electricity. This is due to the way the carbon atoms are arranged in each mineral.

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Why do carbons not conduct electricity?

Graphite and diamond are good electricity conductors.


Is graphite a good insulator?

Well, honey, let me break it down for you. Graphite may be a good conductor of electricity due to its delocalized electrons, but when it comes to being an insulator, it falls flat on its face. So, in short, graphite is about as good at insulating as a screen door on a submarine.


Does carbon have good conductivity?

yes because that is why batteries contain carbon


Can diamond conduct electricity at its solid state?

No, diamond is an insulator and does not conduct electricity in its solid state. This is because it does not have free electrons to carry an electric current.


How can different forms of a solid have different clarities like graphite and diamond?

Although graphite and diamond are both formed from carbon, the physical structure of the electrons for each is different from the other. Diamond atoms are packed more tightly than are atoms in any other mineral, making them (more or less) clear -- there is no response to external stimulus, such as electricity that 'moves' the atoms. Graphite atoms are structured differently, allowing electrons to move: graphite conducts electricity. This makes graphite not clear. Here's a more technical explanation from Wikipedia: "Graphite is able to conduct electricity, due to delocalization of the pi bond electrons above and below the planes of the carbon atoms. These electrons are free to move, so are able to conduct electricity. However, the electricity is only conducted along the plane of the layers. In diamond, all four outer electrons of each carbon atom are 'localised' between the atoms in covalent bonding. The movement of electrons is restricted and diamond does not conduct an electric current. In graphite, each carbon atom uses only 3 of its 4 outer energy level electrons in covalently bonding to three other carbon atoms in a plane. Each carbon atom contributes one electron to a delocalised system of electrons that is also a part of the chemical bonding. The delocalised electrons are free to move throughout the plane. For this reason, graphite conducts electricity along the planes of carbon atoms, but does not conduct in a direction at right angles to the plane."

Related Questions

Is carbon or gold is a malleable and conducts electricity?

Carbon is not malleable but in some forms can conduct electricity. Gold is malleable and conductive.


Is a carbon rod a conductor or insulator?

As regards electrical conduction, if the carbon rod is graphite, it's a conductor. If the carbon rod is diamond, it's an insulator. We have to specify the allotrope of carbon used to make the rod to discover whether it's an insulator or conductor.


Is carbon an insulator or a conductor?

It depends on the type, or allotrope, of carbon you're talking about. For a material to conduct electricity, it should have free electrons to carry the electrical current. In diamond, an allotrope of carbon, there are no such free electrons. This means that diamond does not conduct electricity. However, graphite, another allotrope of carbon, conducts electricity very well because it has an entire "sea" of free electrons.


Is carbon an insulator?

It depends on the type, or allotrope, of carbon you're talking about. For a material to conduct electricity, it should have free electrons to carry the electrical current. In diamond, an allotrope of carbon, there are no such free electrons. This means that diamond does not conduct electricity. However, graphite, another allotrope of carbon, conducts electricity very well because it has an entire "sea" of free electrons.


Which conducts heat better diamond or copper?

Copper is a conductor. Diamond is an insulator.


Why graphite is good conductor of electricity while diamond is not?

Graphite is a good conductor of electricity beacause graphite is sp-2 hybirdize orbit


Why do carbons not conduct electricity?

Graphite and diamond are good electricity conductors.


Why does the electrical conductivity of diamond and graphite differ widely?

graphite conducts electricity becuase its electrons are not bound to the atom but they are moving freely. so the electrons will move upon recieving electric push. diamonds electrons are bound to the atom.


Why blue diamond can conduct electricity?

Blue diamonds do not conduct electricity. Diamonds do, however, conduct heat, in fact five times better than silver. Both diamonds and graphite are produced naturally from carbon. Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, graphite is a good conductor of electricity.


Is a carbon rod an insulator?

A carbon rod may be an insulator or a conductor. It depends on which allotrope of carbon we're talking about. Electricity can travel through a graphite (carbon) rod easily, but it cannot travel through a diamond rod. Both graphite and diamond are carbon, but the former is a conductor while the latter is an insulator.


What is a good conductor of heat and electricity anthracite charcoal diamond graphite?

Graphite is a good conductor of heat and electricity, while anthracite, charcoal, and diamond are poor conductors.


Is graphite a good insulator?

Well, honey, let me break it down for you. Graphite may be a good conductor of electricity due to its delocalized electrons, but when it comes to being an insulator, it falls flat on its face. So, in short, graphite is about as good at insulating as a screen door on a submarine.