What property does the graphite form(of carbon) have that diamond form(carbon) doesn have?
Graphite has the ability to slide over himself. This is because graphite binds in a planar way, atoms bind with others only in a planar (flat) form, and not with atoms above or below them. This makes graphite very slippery, and thus graphite is often used as a lubrication method for some lower-pressure systems. Diamond binds in a perfect crystalline structure (binds with four other carbons around himself), thus removing the sliding ability, and resulting in a system stronger than most other substances on earth.
