Graphite is a naturally occurring form of carbon composed of carbon atom layers stacked on top of each other. These layers are loosely bonded, allowing them to slide past one another and giving ...

However, the same graphite structure fails when it comes to sodium or potassium. Their atoms are simply too big and interactions too complex to slide in and out of graphite's tightly packed layers.

"This video explains why diamond and graphite have different properties depsite both being made of carbon. Diamond has a giant covalent structure with strong bonds, meaning that there are no free ...