Physical Properties
Conductivity: Diamond is one of the best thermal conductors known compared to many other substances. Compared to metals the thermal conductivity (W/m-K) is about 895, where aluminum is 237 and copper is 401, ("Why does diamond conduct heat better than graphite?").
Electrical Conductivity: The structure of a diamond contains a 3-dimensional lattice structure of carbon atoms each bonded to four other carbon atoms. These strong covalent bonds between them cause the structure to lack in free electrons resulting in diamond to have poor electrical conductivity, ("Diamond are good thermal conductors. But it is a good electrical insulator. How is this possible?").
Hardness: Diamond is considered to be the hardest natural material found on the planet. According to Mohs’ Scale, diamond is rated the highest at 10, where 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest of materials. Mohs’ scale is used to measure the hardness of materials by scratching it against 10 other substances on the standard list of materials, ("Mohs Scale"). The reason behind the hardness of diamond is because of its tetrahedral bonded carbon atoms in the strucutre that has a lattice with 1 carbon linked to 4 other carbons, ("Hardness of Diamond").
Boiling and Melting Point:
Carbon (diamond), Values given by ("Melting and Boiling Points").
Boiling Point: 3730℃
Melting Point: 4830℃ (estimate)
Carbon is diamond form has both a very hot melting and boiling point. This means that they require extreme temperatures to either change to liquid form, or gaseous form. According to Figure 1, when diamond is in carbon form it has the highest melting point of all the elements on the periodic table.
Electrical Conductivity: The structure of a diamond contains a 3-dimensional lattice structure of carbon atoms each bonded to four other carbon atoms. These strong covalent bonds between them cause the structure to lack in free electrons resulting in diamond to have poor electrical conductivity, ("Diamond are good thermal conductors. But it is a good electrical insulator. How is this possible?").
Hardness: Diamond is considered to be the hardest natural material found on the planet. According to Mohs’ Scale, diamond is rated the highest at 10, where 1 being the softest and 10 being the hardest of materials. Mohs’ scale is used to measure the hardness of materials by scratching it against 10 other substances on the standard list of materials, ("Mohs Scale"). The reason behind the hardness of diamond is because of its tetrahedral bonded carbon atoms in the strucutre that has a lattice with 1 carbon linked to 4 other carbons, ("Hardness of Diamond").
Boiling and Melting Point:
Carbon (diamond), Values given by ("Melting and Boiling Points").
Boiling Point: 3730℃
Melting Point: 4830℃ (estimate)
Carbon is diamond form has both a very hot melting and boiling point. This means that they require extreme temperatures to either change to liquid form, or gaseous form. According to Figure 1, when diamond is in carbon form it has the highest melting point of all the elements on the periodic table.
Figure 1: Melting point for all elements in the periodic table. Carbon is given in diamond form. Found from, ("Melting Point of the elements").
Solubility: Diamond is insoluble in water and organic substances. There are no possible attractions that could beat the attractions between the carbon atoms covalently bonded in the structure to make diamond soluble in other substances, ("Giant covalent structures").
Density: Diamond is a crystallized form of carbon with a density of 3.51 gm/cm3 compared to graphite with 2.61 gm/cm3, ("HyperPhysics").
Colour: Can be colourless, black, blue, white and grey
Luster: Adamantine
Streak: Colourless
Values Taken By: ("Diamond Mineral Data").
Solubility: Diamond is insoluble in water and organic substances. There are no possible attractions that could beat the attractions between the carbon atoms covalently bonded in the structure to make diamond soluble in other substances, ("Giant covalent structures").
Density: Diamond is a crystallized form of carbon with a density of 3.51 gm/cm3 compared to graphite with 2.61 gm/cm3, ("HyperPhysics").
Colour: Can be colourless, black, blue, white and grey
Luster: Adamantine
Streak: Colourless
Values Taken By: ("Diamond Mineral Data").