Graphite

• Graphite has weak intermolecular forces.
• Graphite is soft and slippery, layers can easily slide over each other because the weak forces of attractions are easily broken.
• Graphite conducts electricity, it is the only non-metal that can do so. Each carbon can carry charge.
• Graphite is comprised of layers arrangements of carbon atoms, each bonded three other carbon in a giant covalent hexagonal structure, each atom has a single electron which is not involved in bonding. These delocalised electrons are free to move between the layers resulting in graphite being an electrical conductor. The weak intermolecular forces between the layers means that graphite is soft and slippery, but the strong covalent bond between the atoms means that graphite has a low melting point.