Graphite and diamond are both made of carbon, but only one is good for pencil lead. Why is graphite
useful for this task while diamond is not? What will be an ideal response?
The carbon atoms in diamond are held together by covalent bonds; they share electrons so that each
carbon atom has the noble gas configuration of eight electrons in its outermost electron shell. Diamond
is very strong. The carbon atoms in graphite are covalently bonded to form sheets, so the sheets are
internally strong but are held together by weak van der Waals bonds. Small pieces of graphite can
flake off along planes when a pencil is run across a piece of paper.
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When an activity raises threats of harm to human health or the environment, the precautionary principle would advocate more scientific research to determine if there is actual harm.
Answer the following statement true (T) or false (F)
True or False: Earthquake body wave records allow scientists to construct an image of Earth's interior
Indicate whether this statement is true or false.
If a raster has the cell resolution of 30 meters, then a cell in the raster measures ________ on the ground:
A. 300 square meters B. 900 square meters C. 600 square meters D. none of these is correct
The Convention on Biological Diversity, ratified by 191 countries, seeks to reverse the global decline of biodiversity and share the benefits from the use of genetic resources. What has slowed this progress?
A. penalties too severe for violators B. harsh enforcement mechanisms C. the lack of ratification by the United States D. focusing on ecosystems rather than individuals E. consideration for the traditions of indigenous peoples