Explain hardness of diamond

• How does hardness relate to graphite?

  Graphite can be scratched easily
• How many carbon atoms is each carbon atom in diamond linked to?

  Four other carbon atoms
• How does the structure of diamond relate to its physical properties?

  • The strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms give diamond its extreme hardness and high melting point
  • The giant covalent structure makes diamond an excellent electrical insulator
• What is the basic structure of diamond based on?

  Giant covalent molecules
• What are the key features of a covalent bond between carbon atoms?

  • Sharing of electrons between atoms
  • Allows for the formation of stable organic compounds
  • Provides strong, directional bonds between atoms
• What type of bonds are present in diamond?

  Covalent bonds
• What makes diamond extremely hard compared to other materials?

  Breaking multiple covalent bonds is required
• What is the hardness rating of diamond on the Mohs scale?

  10
• In what directions does the network of carbon atoms in diamond extend?

  In all directions
• What does hardness depend on in materials?

  Strength of atomic bonding
• Why is diamond considered the hardest material?

  It has a giant covalent structure with strong bonds
• What shape do the carbon atoms form in diamond's structure?

  Tetrahedral shape
• What shape do the covalent bonds form around each carbon atom in diamond?

  • Tetrahedral shape
  • Each carbon atom is bonded to four others
• What type of structure contributes to diamond's hardness?

  A giant covalent structure
• What type of structure does diamond have?

  Giant covalent structure
• What is the hardness rating of glass on the Mohs scale?

  5.5
• What does the image show about the structure of diamond?

  It shows diamond as a giant covalent structure with bonds between the carbon atoms
• What is the hardness of quartz on the Mohs scale?

  7
• What does the structure of diamond create in terms of physical properties?

  A strong, rigid lattice
• What do the dark lines in the diamond structure image represent?

  Strong covalent bonds between carbon atoms
• How many covalent bonds does each carbon atom in diamond form?

  Four covalent bonds
• What is the definition of hardness in materials?

  Resistance to being scratched
• What is the Mohs hardness of a copper penny?

  3.5
• What are the minerals listed on the Mohs hardness scale?

  The minerals listed on the Mohs hardness scale are:

  • Diamond (10)
  • Corundum (9)
  • Topaz (8)
  • Quartz (7)
  • Orthoclase (6)
  • Apatite (5)
  • Fluorite (4)
  • Calcite (3)
  • Gypsum (2)
  • Talc (1)
• What type of bonding holds the atoms/molecules together in this crystal lattice?

  • The atoms/molecules are held together by strong intermolecular forces, such as ionic or covalent bonds
• What are the key features of the structure of diamond shown in the image?

  • Carbon atoms
  • Covalent bonds between carbon atoms
  • Giant covalent structure
• What is the arrangement of carbon atoms in diamond at different positions?

  • Corners: 8 atoms, Tetrahedral
  • Face centers: 6 atoms, Tetrahedral
  • Center: 1 atom, Tetrahedral
• How does the hardness of diamond compare to that of corundum?

  Diamond is harder than corundum
• What is the result of the continuous network of carbon atoms in diamond?

  It creates a very strong and rigid structure
• Why are the covalent bonds in diamond considered rigid?

  Because they are directional and strong
• How are the covalent bonds in diamond arranged?

  They are equally distributed in a tetrahedral shape
• What type of chemical bond is shown between the carbon atoms in the image?

  Covalent bond
• What is the hardness rating of corundum on the Mohs scale?

  9
• What is the hardness rating of steel on the Mohs scale?

  6.5
• What is the name of the fundamental building block of organic compounds shown in the image?

  Carbon atom
• How does hardness relate to a diamond?

  A diamond is very resistant to scratching
• What is the Mohs hardness scale?

  The Mohs hardness scale is a scale that measures the hardness of minerals, ranging from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
• In how many dimensions does the lattice of diamond extend?

  Three dimensions
• Compare the hardness of diamond to other materials on the Mohs scale.

  • Diamond: 10
  • Corundum: 9
  • Steel: 6.5
  • Glass: 5.5