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Topic Allotropes of carbon
Asked 6 times across 3 UPSC exams over 11 years (2014–2025), peaking in 2014.
Key insights
- Most tested in CDS — 4 of 6 PYQs
- Most asked in 2014
- Recurs across 5 years (2014–2025)
How it travelled across exams
First appearance in each exam — the same idea, reframed.
CDS 2014 → NDA 2024 → CISF 2025
How the concept evolved
Long-running — most appearances (3 of 6) predate 2016, and it still returns.
Related concepts
Ideas UPSC tests alongside this one — keep exploring.
Sample questions
You've seen the pattern — here are a few of the actual PYQs.
CISF2025
Which one among the following statements about graphite is correct ?
- A Graphite is harder than diamond
- B Graphite contains a higher percentage of carbon than diamond
- C Graphite is a better conductor of electricity than diamond ✓
- D Graphite and diamond both have equal interatomic distances
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
NDA2024
The elemental composition of diamond is
- A Carbon and Hydrogen
- B Carbon and Oxygen
- C Pure Carbon ✓
- D Pure Silicon
✓ Correct answer: (C)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
CDS2019
In graphite, each carbon atom is bonded to three other carbon atoms
- A forming a three-dimensional structure ✓
- B in the same plane giving a hexagonal array
- C in the same plane giving a square array
- D in the same plane giving a pentagonal array
✓ Correct answer: (A)
Science & Technology › Physics & Chemistry
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