Giant Covalent Substences

While most non-metals react and form covalent bonds which join the atoms together in molecules, a few form very diffrent structures. Instead of joining a small number of atoms together in individual molecules, the covalent bonds form large networks of covalent bonds.

Key Points:

1. Some covalently bonded substances contain giant structures.

2. These substances have high melting points and boiling points.

3. The giant structure of graphite contains layers of atoms that can slide over each other which make graphite slippery. The atoms in diamond have a diffrent structure and cannot slide like this - so diamond is a very hard substance.

Did You Know?

Diamond is the hardest natural substance that we know. Artifical diamonds can be made by heating pure carbon to very high temperatures under enormous pressures.