Properties of Diamond?

Question

Does anyone know what it is about diamonds that mean they have a giant structure instead of a simple molecular structure? I'm getting in a total muddle over this lol

Answer 1

The chemistry of diamonds is fully explained at :
http://chemistry.about.com/cs/geochemistry/a/aa071601a.htm

Answer 2

As above (bluelagoon), with the additional slightly oversimplified comment that because every bond and every atom in diamond is identical in angle, placement and strength, one cannot say where a molecule of diamond starts, and where it finishes. And so it forms a giant homologous structure (or 'lump', as we scientists like to call it.) I also remember learning that althought diamond is the hardest natural material, the C-C bonds in a single layer of graphite are actually stronger still, making this even harder (albeit one atom thick, and therefore practically speaking not hard) I'm not on about the bonds between layers, which any pencil will prove are very weak, but the other bonds. Can someone confirm/deny?

Answer 3

Every carbon atom in diamond is covalently bonded to the four adjacent carbon atoms.
As there are millions of carbon atoms all bonded in this way, produces a giant lattice structure.
This structure is known by the name ADAMANTINE.

A simple molecular structure is say two or three atoms in a molecule such as carbon dioxide or water or methane or ammonia.

Answer 4

diamond is a pure compound made by carbon atoms. Each carbon atoms will form up to 4 bonds with other carbon atoms in the structure. As a result, all the carbon atoms are 'linked' together such that it will form a giant molecular structur, which is different from simple molecular structure (for example, CO2, This carbon is attached to two oxygen atoms, and THAT"S IT, so it will not form covalent bond with other CO2s, only will form week van der waals bond, please note that van der waal's bond exists in many different names)

All thse carbon atoms will rearrage itself such that it will be compact and as a result, it is strong and solid. This is what we call diamond.

So, the expensive diamond you bought from the shop is not much different from the charcoal you used for your BBQ =p

Answer 5

The structure of diamond is 3 dimensional, while graphite foms in layers

Answer 6

Diamonds typically crystallize in the face-centered cubic crystal system and consist of tetrahedrally bonded carbon atoms

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubic_crystal_system

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond

Answer 7

All Carbon - Hardest substance known to man. Crystalline.

Answer 8

diamond has a complex structure of carbon.....

Answer 9

yes diamond is hard, but its naturally occuring. there are harder man made compounds and materials.