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General ScienceEasyAsked in: NDA · NDA-II 2025, GAT

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct ?

  1. A.Diamond is hard due to extended covalent bonding in it
  2. B.Fullerene is composed of five and six membered rings
  3. C.Diamond is a good conductor of electricity
  4. D.Graphite is used as a lubricant

Correct answer

C. Diamond is a good conductor of electricity

Explanation

The correct answer is C, Diamond is a good conductor of electricity. This statement is false: diamond is an electrical insulator because it has no free electrons.

In diamond, every carbon atom uses all four of its valence electrons to form strong covalent bonds with four other carbon atoms in a rigid three-dimensional network. With no electron left free to move, diamond does not conduct electricity. Graphite is different: each carbon bonds to only three others, leaving one free electron per atom, so graphite conducts electricity.

A is correct because the extended three-dimensional covalent network makes diamond the hardest natural substance. B is correct because fullerene (C60, buckminsterfullerene) is a football-shaped cage of 12 five-membered and 20 six-membered rings. D is correct because graphite's layers are held by weak forces and slide over one another, so it works as a dry lubricant.

Exam tip: diamond is hard and an insulator; graphite is soft, slippery and a conductor.

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