Carbon vs Silicon Carbide: Understanding the Differences

What are the key differences between carbon and silicon carbide?

Which element is a pure substance and which one is a compound?

Answer:

Carbon is a pure element with six electrons in its electron shells, while silicon carbide is a compound of silicon and carbon.

Carbon (C) and silicon carbide (SiC) are two different substances with distinct properties. Carbon is a pure element, it has six electrons in total, two in the 1s electron energy shell and four in the 2s and 2p shells. Its electron configuration allows it to form covalent bonds with other elements.

Silicon carbide, on the other hand, is a compound made from silicon (Si) and carbon (C). It does not possess 'eight more electron energy shells' than carbon. Silicon has 14 electrons in total, with two in the 1s shell, eight in the 2s and 2p shells, and four in the 3s and 3p shells. When silicon and carbon react to form silicon carbide, the electron configuration of individual atoms changes, creating a complex lattice structure.