Contents
Key Stage 4
Meaning
Giant covalent structures are very large molecules in which all the atoms are held to one another by covalent bonds.
About Giant Covalent Structures
- Giant covalent structures are molecules are made of a large number of non-metal atoms joined by covalent bonds.
- The atoms in a giant covalent structure are arranged in a regular lattice (a repeating pattern of elements.
Examples
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Bulk Properties
- Giant Covalent Structures usually have very high melting points due to the strong chemical bonds between adjacent atoms.
- Giant Covalent Structures may have good or poor electrical conductors depending on whether there are any electrons free to move between atoms.
- Diamond is a poor electrical conductor because all the electrons are shared by adjacent atoms so none are free to move between atoms.
- Graphite and graphene are good electrical conductors because the Carbon atoms only form 3 bonds with adjacent atoms allowing a spare electron in each atom to move freely around the molecule.