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The bonding occurs through sp 3 hybridized orbitals to give a C-C bond length of 154 pm. This network of unstrained covalent bonds makes diamond extremely strong. Diamond is thermodynamically less stable than graphite at pressures below 1.7 GPa. [5] [6] [7]
Diamond and graphite are two allotropes of carbon: pure forms of the same element that differ in structure. If heated over 700 °C (1,292 °F) in air, diamond, being a form of carbon, oxidizes and its surface blackens, but the surface can be restored by re-polishing. [ 47 ]
Diamond is the hardest material on the qualitative Mohs scale. To conduct the quantitative Vickers hardness test, samples of materials are struck with a pyramid of standardized dimensions using a known force – a diamond crystal is used for the pyramid to permit a wide range of materials to be tested. From the size of the resulting indentation ...
Diamond and graphite are two allotropes of carbon: pure forms of the same element that differ in crystalline structure.. Allotropy or allotropism (from Ancient Greek ἄλλος (allos) ' other ' and τρόπος (tropos) ' manner, form ') is the property of some chemical elements to exist in two or more different forms, in the same physical state, known as allotropes of the elements.
In diamond, all the carbon-to-carbon bonds, both within a layer of rings and between them, are in the staggered conformation, thus causing all four cubic-diagonal directions to be equivalent; whereas in lonsdaleite the bonds between layers are in the eclipsed conformation, which defines the axis of hexagonal symmetry.
Melting point: High, since melting means breaking covalent bonds (rather than merely overcoming weaker intermolecular forces). [ 5 ] Solid-phase electrical conductivity : Variable, [ 6 ] depending on the nature of the bonding: network solids in which all electrons are used for sigma bonds (e.g. diamond, quartz) are poor conductors, as there are ...
Allotropes of phosphorus are useful to further demonstrate this structure-property relationship. White phosphorus, a molecular solid, has a relatively low density of 1.82 g/cm 3 and melting point of 44.1 °C; it is a soft material which can be cut with a knife.
Diamond is an excellent electrical insulator, [29] and has the highest breakdown electric field of any known material. Some forms of graphite are used for thermal insulation (i.e. firebreaks and heat shields), but some other forms are good thermal conductors. Diamond is the best known naturally occurring thermal conductor. Graphite is opaque.