This definitions covers Key Definitions within Giant Covalent Structures for GCSE Chemistry. Revise Giant Covalent Structures in Bonding & Structure for GCSE Chemistry with 21 exam-style questions and 21 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 6 of 12 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
📖 Key Definitions
Giant covalent structure: A substance in which atoms are connected by covalent bonds extending in all directions throughout the solid, with no separate molecules and no fixed boundary.
Allotrope: A different structural form of the same element — diamond and graphite are allotropes of carbon.
Delocalised electron: An electron that is not fixed to any particular atom but can move freely through the structure, enabling electrical conduction.
Fullerene: A molecular form of carbon forming a hollow cage structure (e.g., C₆₀ — buckminsterfullerene); can be used to deliver drug molecules into the body.
Graphene: A single layer of graphite — a two-dimensional sheet of carbon atoms in a hexagonal arrangement; extremely strong and conducts electricity.
Practice questions for Giant Covalent Structures
Why do giant covalent structures have very high melting points?
Explain why graphite conducts electricity but diamond does not.