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🧪 Chemistry  ·  p-Block Elements (Groups 13 & 14)  ·  NEET & JEE

Aluminium is chosen for overhead electrical cables because it is:

Answer: a light, good conductor.

  • A a very dense metal
  • B a light, good conductor
  • C a strongly magnetic metal
  • D a faintly radioactive metal

Correct answer: B. a light, good conductor

Explanation: Aluminium combines low density with good electrical conductivity, ideal for transmission lines.

Carbon Allotropes: Diamond vs GraphiteDiamond (3D network)Every C is sp³, 4 strong bonds→ hardest natural substanceGraphite (layered sheets)weak van der Waals(layers slide → lubricant)Each C is sp², hexagonal sheets→ conducts electricity along sheets

Diamond's rigid 3D tetrahedral network makes it the hardest natural material, while graphite's flat hexagonal sheets are held together only by weak forces, letting them slide past each other (used as a lubricant and in pencils).

Concept context

Covers the Boron family (Group 13: B, Al) and the Carbon family (Group 14: C, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb). Key topics include Lewis acid behaviour of BF₃, borax bead test, silicates, silicones, allotropes of carbon, and trends in properties down the group.

Read the full p-Block Elements (Groups 13 & 14) notes →