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Graphite and diamond are two of the most interesting minerals. They are identical chemically – both are composed of carbon (C), but physically, they are very different. Minerals which have the same chemistry but different crystal structures are called polymorphs.
Do diamond and graphite have the same molecular formula?
Definition: Chemical compound that has the same molecular formula – the same number and kinds of atoms – as another compound, but a different structural arrangement of the atoms in space, and, therefore, different properties. For example, graphite (pencil lead) and diamond are isomers of carbon.
How are diamond and graphite structurally different?
Differences 1. Diamond: each carbon atom bonds to 4 other carbon atoms, WHILST, Graphite: each carbon atom bonds to 3 other carbon atoms. Thus, diamond bears more of a tetrahedral structure, whereas graphite takes the form of layers. Hence, graphite is a weak conductor of electricity.
What’s harder than diamond?
Scientists have calculated that wurtzite boron nitride and lonsdaleite (hexagonal diamond) both have greater indentation strengths than diamond. Source: English Wikipedia. (PhysOrg.com) — Currently, diamond is regarded to be the hardest known material in the world.
Is Obsidian stronger than diamond?
Diamond is harder than obsidian, as obsidian is a form of volcanic glass. Obsidian has a hardness of 5 to 5.5 on the mineral hardness scale, whereas diamonds have a hardness of 10.
Why is diamond hard and graphite soft and slippery?
The carbon atoms in graphite appear to bond with weaker intermolecular forces, allowing the layers to move over one another. The weak intermolecular forces are known as the weak Van der Waals forces. Therefore, diamond is hard but graphite is soft and slippery even though both have carbon present in them.
What do pencils and diamonds have in common?
The short explanation is that the structure of how the single carbon atoms are stuck together is different in a pencil’s tip compared to a diamond.
Do Black Diamonds conduct electricity?
Diamond is a good conductor of heat but bad conductor of electricity. Electric current is caused due to availablity of free electrons in a crystal . In case of diamond, each carbon atom is covalently bonded with four other carbon atoms and hence no free electrons are available to conduct electric current.
Why is graphite a good conductor of electricity and diamond is not?
Graphite can conduct electricity because of the delocalised (free) electrons in its structure. These arise because each carbon atom is only bonded to 3 other carbon atoms. However, in diamond, all 4 outer electrons on each carbon atom are used in covalent bonding, so there are no delocalised electrons.
What type of structure do both diamond and graphite have?
Diamond and graphite are different forms of the element carbon. They both have giant structures of carbon atoms , joined together by covalent bonds .
What are the common features of graphite and diamond?
Similarities Between Graphite and Diamonds
- Carbon. Both graphite and diamonds are made out of pure carbon.
- Covalent Bonds. The bonds that hold the carbon to each other are covalent bonds.
- High Melting Points. The melting points of both graphite and diamond are very high.
- Naturally Occuring.
What are 5 differences between diamond and graphite?
Difference between diamond and graphite.The p-Block Elements.
| Diamond | Graphite |
|---|---|
| 4. It has huge three dimensional network structure. | 4. It has two dimensional sheet like structure. |
| 5. It does not possess any lustre | 5. It a has metallic lustre. |
| 6. It a has very high melting point. | 6. It has low metling point. |
Can acid melt a diamond?
No, acids cannot dissolve diamonds, for the simple reason that a diamonds carbon atoms are too tightly packed together for the Hydrogen ions to be able to dissolve the substance.
Why are diamonds clear but coal black?
Diamonds are unstable compared to coal (or more exactly, graphite) so high temperature and pressure are required for diamonds to form from graphite. The reason that coal (graphite) is black and diamonds are clear has to do with how the carbon atoms are connected together in the two different forms of carbon.
Why are diamonds and graphite different?
Graphite and Diamond are different because they have different structures. However each carbon atom in Diamond has 4 covalent bonds with other Carbons, making it extremely strong and hard. On the other hand, each carbon in graphite is bonded to three carbons, and therefore graphite is formed in layers.
Which is harder graphite or diamond?
We know that both diamond and graphite are made of carbon. However, diamond is harder than graphite because of the carbon atoms in a diamond form 4 covalent bonds in the form of tetrahedral structure. This is the reason why diamond is harder than graphite.
What is the hardest thing on earth?
Diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance found on Earth.
Why is diamond so hard?
The outermost shell of each carbon atom has four electrons. In diamond, these electrons are shared with four other carbon atoms to form very strong chemical bonds resulting in an extremely rigid tetrahedral crystal. It is this simple, tightly-bonded arrangement that makes diamond one of the hardest substances on Earth.
What are 3 differences between diamond and graphite?
For example, Graphite and diamond are two different allotropes of carbon.Explain the difference in properties of diamond and graphite on the basis of their structures.
| DIAMOND | GRAPHITE |
|---|---|
| 1) It has a crystalline structure. | 1) It has a layered structure. |
| 2) It is made up of tetrahedral units. | 2) It has a planar geometry. |
Can you break a diamond with a hammer?
As an example, you can scratch steel with a diamond, but you can easily shatter a diamond with a hammer. The diamond is hard, the hammer is strong. This makes the diamond incredibly hard and is why it is able to scratch any other material.
What is a single layer of graphite called?
Graphene is simply one atomic layer of graphite – a layer of sp2 bonded carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal or honeycomb lattice.
What are two differences between graphite and diamond?
Diamond is hard due to strong covalent bonds present in it. In a Graphite, carbon atoms are bounded together in a flat layers by an strong covalent bonds in a regular haxagon. These layers are held together by much wealer van der Wall’s forces, therefore the crystals of graphite soft and slippery.
Why is diamond hard and graphite slippery?
Diamond is hard because the carbon atoms in diamond are bonded in a stronger tetrahedron pattern but graphite is soft and slippery because the carbon atoms in graphite are bonded in layers with only weak vanderwall force holding the layers together.
What are the similarities and differences between graphite and diamond?
Expert Answer:
- Both graphite and diamond are forms of carbon. As such, they are said to be allotropes of carbon.
- Both occur naturally.
- Both are produced in the earth in geothermal processes.
- Both can be made artificially.
- Both are normally solids and highly stable.
Can a diamond conduct electricity?
Diamond is a form of carbon in which each carbon atom is joined to four other carbon atoms, forming a giant covalent structure. It does not conduct electricity as there are no delocalised electrons in the structure.
