Graphite

Graphite is a soft, electrically conductive mineral composed of carbon atoms bonded in flat sheets. Weak forces between the sheets let them slide past one another.

Graphene: Graphene is a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice. It is one sheet peeled from graphite’s stacked layers.
Pencil: A pencil is a writing instrument that deposits a mark from a graphite-and-clay core. Graphite particles transfer to paper as the core wears down.
Graphite mining: Graphite mining is the extraction of naturally occurring graphite from the Earth. Mining supplies natural graphite from deposits formed by geological processes.
Diamond: Diamond is a crystalline form of carbon in which each atom bonds to four neighbors in a rigid three-dimensional network. Its strong three-dimensional bonding contrasts with graphite’s sliding sheets.
Carbon allotrope: A carbon allotrope is a structural form of the element carbon. Graphite’s properties arise from its particular atomic arrangement.
Solid lubricant: A solid lubricant reduces friction between surfaces without requiring a liquid or grease. Graphite’s sheets shear easily, reducing friction in suitable environments.
Metamorphic rock: Metamorphic rock forms when existing rock is altered by heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids. Many natural graphite deposits form when carbon-rich rocks undergo metamorphism.
Fullerene: A fullerene is a carbon molecule whose atoms form a closed cage, tube, or related curved structure. Its discrete curved structures contrast with graphite’s extended flat layers.
Van der Waals force: Van der Waals forces are weak attractions between atoms or molecules arising from electric dipoles. These weak attractions hold graphite’s sheets together while allowing them to slide.
Lithium-ion battery: A lithium-ion battery stores and releases energy by moving lithium ions between electrodes. Graphite commonly serves as the negative electrode material that hosts lithium ions.

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