This may seem immature, but...?

Question

I'm tutoring my 7yo nephew & he just won't agree with me that diamonds are made of a particular substance. Can someone please answers this question: What element are diamonds composed of? I'm not sure if he'll believe a few other people either, but it's worth a try.

Thanks. Yeah, he knows what Carbon is. He's in the fourth grade & they've just finished a two week unit of learning the PCE. They're now learning simple compounds,etc. Thanks, again.

Answer 1

click on any of these links

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=diamond+structure

Answer 2

Diamonds are minerals made of carbon that is crystallized. In fact diamonds are more than 99.95% pure carbon. The remaining 0.05 percent of the elements often influences the diamonds' color and shape. The diamond is also by far the hardest natural substance known to man. Diamonds form between 75 and 120 miles below the earth's surface. Some diamonds reached the oceans and were washed back onto the beach. The first diamond mines were discovered in India before 500 BC. India has been the world's major supplier of diamonds for over 2,000 years, producing some of the most famous diamonds. Today, India accounts for only a tiny percentage of the world's diamond production. Today's diamond production leaders are currently Australia, Botswana, Russia, South Africa, Zaire and Canada.

Answer 3

Understanding the chemistry of a diamond requires a basic knowledge of the element carbon. A neutral carbon atom has 6 protons and 6 neutrons in its nucleus, balanced by 6 electrons. The electron shell configuration of carbon is 1s22s22p2. Carbon has a valence of 4, since 4 electrons can be accepted to fill the 2p orbital. Diamond is made up of repeating units of carbon atoms joined to four other carbon atoms via the strongest chemical linkage, covalent bonds. Each carbon atom is in a rigid tetrahedral network where it is equidistant from its neighboring carbon atoms. The structural unit of diamond consists of 8 atoms, fundamentally arranged in a cube. This network is very stable and rigid, which is why diamonds are so very hard and have a high melting point.

The crystal structure of a diamond is a face-centered cubic or FCC lattice. Each carbon atom joins four other carbon atoms in regular tetrahedrons (triangular prisms). Based on the cubic form and its highly symmetrical arrangement of atoms, diamond crystals can develop into several different shapes, known as 'crystal habits'. The most common crystal habit is the eight-sided octahedron or diamond shape. Diamond crystals can also form cubes, dodecahedra, and combinations of these shapes. Except for two shape classes, these structures are manifestations of the cubic crystal system. One exception is the flat form called a macle, which is really a composite crystal, and the other exception is the class of etched crystals, which have rounded surfaces and may have elongated shapes. Real diamond crystals don't have completely smooth faces, but may have raised or indented triangular growths called 'trigons'. Diamonds have perfect cleavage in four different directions, meaning a diamond will separate neatly along these directions rather than break in a jagged manner. The lines of cleavage result from the diamond crystal having fewer chemical bonds along the plane of its octahedral face than in other directions. Diamond cutters take advantage of lines of cleavage to facet gemstones.

After reading this answer take a look at:

http://celebritiesphotos.blogspot.com

Thanks

Answer 4

I think diamonds are made solely of carbon. A carbon atom typically has four valence electrons- so they can easily bond to several other elements, including themselves. Carbon bonded with carbon makes for a very strong bond- which would probably explain why diamonds are the hardest substance known to man.

Answer 5

Carbon

Answer 6

Carbon

Answer 7

Diamonds are made from carbon. Take him to your computer, do a google search for either diamond or "allotropes of carbon" and show him you are right.

Answer 8

Diamonds are made of crystallized carbon.
But first, you'll probably have to make sure your nephew knows what carbon is...

Answer 9

Well, I don't think a seven year old can even comprehend the notion of an element. He may say he understands, but trust me, he doesn't. At least not the way we know it. Don't sweat it until he's at least 11 or 12.

Answer 10

And since it is in carbon .... it burns. But never try!

Answer 11

carbon n tell him it is the hardest substance