Allotropes of Carbon

Allotropes are DIFFERENT STRUCTURAL forms of the SAME ELEMENT in the same physical state.

Graphite is an example of an allotrope of Carbon: 

Graphite

• Composed of LAYERED structures of HEXAGONAL RINGS, with each carbon atom bonded to THREE other atoms with COVALENT BONDS.
• Carbon has FOUR electrons in its outer shell, so the fourth electron that is NOT used for bonding is DELOCALISED.
• This means GRAPHITE is a good CONDUCTOR of electricity, as its delocalised electrons can carry a charge (just like metals).
• It is SOFT, and used as a LUBRICANT due to weak forces between layers, causing the layers to SLIDE over one another.