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  4. Graphite is soft while diamond is hard because:

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Q. Graphite is soft while diamond is hard because:

BHUBHU 2003

Solution:

In diamond each carbon atom is $ sp^{3} $ hybridized and is joined to each by strong covalent bonds and form tetrahedral structure. In graphite carbon is $ sp^{2} $ hybridized. The carbon atoms join each other to form planar, hexagonal sheet like structure held together by weak van der Waal force. Therefore, diamond is harder than graphite.