WhatsApp Us
Home › TYS Solutions › O Level Chem › 2024 › P1 Q12

2024 O Level Chem P1 Q12 — Giant Covalent Structures Solution

Giant Covalent Structures 2024 O Level Pure Chemistry · Paper 1 · Q12

Question

Boron nitride has the formula BN. It exists in many crystal forms. Cubic boron nitride, c-BN, has the same structure as diamond. These two materials have very similar properties. A student suggests three possible uses for c-BN.
1 as an electrical conductor in electronic devices.
2 as an abrasive in situations where extreme hardness is required.
3 to make cutting tools that will cut hard steels. Which uses of c-BN can be deduced from the information given?
  1. A1, 2 and 3
  2. B1 and 2 only
  3. C1 and 3 only
  4. D2 and 3 only
Correct answer: D

Video Solution

Explanation

Answer: D. Cubic boron nitride (c-BN) has the same structure as diamond — a giant covalent network where each atom is bonded to four others by strong covalent bonds. Diamond's hallmark properties (extreme hardness, very high melting point, electrical insulator) carry over to c-BN.

Use 2 (abrasive) follows directly from extreme hardness. Use 3 (cutting hard steels) also follows — only something at least as hard as the workpiece can cut it.

Use 1 (electrical conductor) is wrong. All electrons in c-BN are localised in covalent bonds, just as in diamond. There are no free electrons or mobile ions, so c-BN is an electrical insulator.

Get the Sec 3 / Sec 4 recording package

Every O Level Pure Chemistry TYS MCQ solution video, plus full Sec 3 / Sec 4 topic recordings.

Find out more