Graphite is a soft solid lubricant extremely difficult to melt. The reason for this anomalous behaviour is that graphite

Options

A. is a non-crystalline substance.
B. is an allotropic form of diamond.
C. has molecules of variable molecular masses like polymers.
D. has carbon atoms arranged in large plates of ring of strongly bound carbon atoms with weak interplate bonds.

Answer

D

Explanation

Graphite is a two-dimensional sheet like structure and each carbon atoms makes a use of `sp^(2)` hybridisation.The above layer structure of graphite is less compact than that of diamond.Forther, since the bonding between the layers involving only van der Waal's forces is weak, these layers can slide over each other.This gives softness, greasiness and lubricatinng character to graphite.