What is the difference between lead and graphite?

Answer 1

Lead is a metal, and graphite is an allotrope (a form) of carbon. They are two different chemical elements, and they have quite different properties.

Lead is a soft, silvery metal. It's used in many applications, the primary one being in the manufacture of lead acid batteries. Those are the kind used in motor vehicles.

Carbon has several allotropes (or forms). One is graphite, the fine black powder that is used as a lubricant (particularly for lock mechanisms). Another is in the form of charcoal, and we use that as a filter medium and for barbeque fuel. Lastly, there is diamond. It is the hardest naturally occurring substance, and we use it as an industrial abrasive. Oh, and we also cut and polish the larger ones. And you know all about them....

As a close, graphite is also the substance in pencil lead. Back in the ancient world, the element lead was known, and it was also known that lead (the metal) could leave a mark on paper. Lead was adapted for and used in writing for a long time until it was replaced with powdered compressed graphite.

Need some links for lead and graphite? Got some for ya. They're to the Wikipedia articles of the same names. Surf on over and check things out.

Answer 2

Lead is a dense, metallic element often used in pencil casings. Graphite, on the other hand, is a form of carbon that is used as the core material in pencils. Graphite is softer and leaves a darker mark than lead.

Answer 3

Lead is an element of chemical symbol Pb. Graphite is made of pure carbon (C) atoms with weak bonds between layers. This is what allows graphite to be a good writing material, the layers slide off of each other with ease.