Graphite Molecule Model

Graphite Molecule Model

The set enables constructing a model of a graphite molecule. It is one of the most well-known allotropes of carbon.

The three-dimensional graphite model consists of 3 layers formed from:

• 45 carbon atoms (C), diameter 23 mm
• 67 connectors (2 types: thicker gray and thinner purple), length 30 mm

The model can be assembled and disassembled according to the included instruction.

What is graphite?

Graphite is a common and widely distributed mineral from the native element group. The structure of graphite consists of layers in which there are conjugated, six-membered aromatic cyclic systems, similar to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with a large number of condensed rings. As in benzene, each C−C bond in a layer has the character of a delocalized 1.5 bond. These bonds form regions of delocalized pi orbitals, which, similar to metals, allow electrons to move freely parallel to the layers, giving graphite relatively high electrical conductivity.

Between the layers there are only weak interactions. Their character, traditionally described as Van der Waals interactions, is in fact a weak metallic-like interaction. The metallic character of the bonding, combined with a relatively small number of participating electrons (about 1 in 10,000 atoms) and relatively high mobility, causes the layer-to-layer bonding strength to be close to that characteristic for Van der Waals interactions, while the electrical conductivity in the direction perpendicular to the graphite planes is several orders of magnitude higher than the conductivity typical for molecular crystals.