Given below are two statements: Statement I: Graphite is the thermodynamically most stable allotrope of carbon, hence its standard enthalpy of formation is taken as zero. Statement II: The high stability and electrical conductivity of graphite are due to the presence of delocalized electrons across its sp ^3 hybridized planar sheets. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the op

Step-by-step solution

Statement I is correct. Graphite is thermodynamically the most stable allotrope of carbon. Therefore, its standard enthalpy of formation ( _f H^ ) is taken as zero. Statement II is incorrect. While graphite does have delocalized electrons that account for its electrical conductivity, the carbon atoms in its planar sheets are sp ^2 hybridized, not sp ^3 hybridized. Diamond contains sp ^3 hybridized carbon atoms. Answer: Statement I is correct but Statement II is incorrect