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6 (a) Explain, in terms of their structure, how metals conduct electricity - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 6
6 (a) Explain, in terms of their structure, how metals conduct electricity. (b) Oxygen is a simple molecular, covalent substance. The electronic configuration of an... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:6 (a) Explain, in terms of their structure, how metals conduct electricity - Edexcel - GCSE Chemistry - Question 6 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
Explain, in terms of their structure, how metals conduct electricity.
Answer
Metals conduct electricity due to the presence of delocalised electrons. These electrons are not associated with any specific atom and can move freely throughout the metallic structure. When an electric potential is applied, these delocalised electrons flow, allowing the metal to conduct electric current effectively.
Step 2
Draw the dot and cross diagram of an oxygen molecule, O₂. Show outer electrons only.
Answer
A dot and cross diagram for O₂ would show two oxygen atoms sharing a pair of electrons. Each oxygen atom will be represented with six outer electrons in total, with two electrons (one from each atom) overlapping to form the O=O double bond.
Step 3
Explain why potassium chloride has such a high melting point.
Answer
Potassium chloride (KCl) has a high melting point due to the strong ionic bonds between the potassium ions (K⁺) and chloride ions (Cl⁻). A large amount of energy is needed to overcome these strong electrostatic attractions when the solid is heated to its melting point.
Step 4
Explain, using ideas about their structures, why diamond and graphite are suitable for these uses.
Answer
Diamond is structured in a three-dimensional lattice where each carbon atom is tetrahedrally bonded to four other carbon atoms, making it extremely hard and suitable for cutting tools. In contrast, graphite consists of layers of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern, with weak van der Waals forces between the layers. This allows the layers to slide over each other easily, making graphite suitable as a lubricant and in electrodes.