Crystal structure of diamond. Characteristics of the structure of diamond. Translation into other languages

Hello, dear friends. Many people love the wonderful play of light on the facets of real diamonds. Over time, simple interest requires more and more immersion in the topic of precious stones, namely diamonds. I would like to know more about their structure, which allows the stones to be so strong. The interest is doubly enhanced by the fact that real stone is quite difficult to damage at home, and the stone is not going to fade over the years. The structure of diamond is truly amazing.

Graphite and diamond have the same nature, the same origin. After all, they are based on the well-known carbon. Until now, one can only be amazed at how substances that are so strikingly different from each other can be obtained from the same element. What structure does an uncut diamond have?

Diamond structure

The crystal structure of the stone has a very harmonious structure and connection of atoms. This is not surprising: carbon atoms tend to be located in the center, and the top points (vertices) in this form are only the carbon atoms closest to each other. By the way, the density of adamantium is precisely explained by the fact that the atoms of the unit cell are connected by a covalent bond.

You can see the structure of the crystal lattice in this short video:

The most interesting thing is that the edges of a diamond appear only when it is cut. That is, this has nothing to do with the shape of the crystal.

In general, the mineral, as already noted, is almost one hundred percent carbon. However, quite a lot of impurities can be found in it (though within just one percent). Silicon, magnesium, nitrogen - you can’t find anything in that insignificant proportion of additional substances that a diamond has. And this is not a complete list.

The shape of the diamond crystal is a tetrahedron, that is, essentially a regular pyramid with four triangles as planes. Any of the mineral lattices has a cubic shape, hence the name crystal lattice.

Due to its structure, diamonds are often used in technology and in many industries, which you can read about here.

Physical properties of diamond

In addition to general information about the structure of the stone, with the help of such information you can obtain some other information regarding its properties.

As mentioned earlier, diamond is the hardest substance among the substances existing on Earth (density on the Mohs scale is oriented towards it at its maximum value of 10). But some varieties of the mineral, although they have a similar structure, have much lower hardness. For example, corundum is much less hard - diamond exceeds it in this quality by about 150 times.

The same graphite is much softer for one simple reason - a radical difference in the structure of the crystal lattice.

Experiments

By the way, about combustion. Some craftsmen carry out combustion experiments in laboratories. Of course, these are specialists, it’s not worth repeating this (and it’s very difficult). The process of one of these experiments can be observed in the video:

Even more facts about stones and their features await you further. Come visit more often and share your impressions using the social network buttons. See you soon!

Team LyubiKamni

Diamonds in nature are inclusions in rocks, serpentines, etc. In addition, they are sometimes found in river and sea coastal pebble placers, where they end up as a result of the destruction of volcanic rocks. To obtain one carat of natural diamonds, about 250 tons of diamond-containing ore must be processed. Considering that when cutting a nugget loses on average half its weight, the amount of ore required can be doubled.

In terms of chemical composition, it is one of the simplest minerals; it is pure carbon with minor admixtures of calcium, magnesium and iron oxides.

Physicochemical properties of diamond

• The chemical formula is C (carbon).
• Color - colorless, with shades of yellow, less often - red, orange, green, blue.
• The crystal system is cubic.
• Hardness 10 on the Mohs scale.
• Density, specific gravity - 3.52 g per cm3.
• The fracture is conchoidal.
• Refractive index - 2.417.
• Cleavage is perfect, octahedral.
• Habitus, crystal shape - octahedral, dodecahedral.
• Pleochroism - no.
• Transparency - from transparent to opaque.

Where and how are they mined?

Legend has it that in ancient times people used birds of prey to mine diamonds. Pieces of raw meat, to which small crystals stuck, were thrown into deep crevices with precious placers. Sensing the smell of prey, the eagles descended into these crevices, grabbed food and carried it away in their talons. Then all that was left was to follow the bird, sneak up unnoticed and snatch the meat with the jewelry stuck to it. The second method involved searching for eagle nests, around which a large amount of bird droppings collected. People picked it up and took out diamond nuggets, sometimes reaching considerable sizes.

In fact, in the old days, diamonds were mined only from river and sea placers by carefully washing out pebbles and sand. The main tools of labor were a shovel, a sieve and a pick. An alternative to this method was the discovery at the end of the 19th century. - a geological body of vertical shape, formed by the breakthrough of gases through the earth’s crust. Kimberlite is a volcanic rock that contains diamond crystals along with other minerals. Today, almost the entire diamond mining industry is built on the use of this natural phenomenon.

Diamond price

• 1. CARAT - stone weight;
• 2. CUT - cut quality;
• 3. COLOR - color;
• 4. CLARITY - cleanliness.

The most important factor in determining the price of a stone is the quality of its cut. If a diamond is cut incorrectly, then there can be no talk of any play of light or beauty. The ratio of the diamond's depth and surface area to its diameter plays a key role in cutting. The proportionality of the stone is rated on a five-point GIA scale from good to ideal.

Trade rules stipulate that only those diamonds that have exactly 57 facets can be called diamonds. According to experts, it is this cut that allows one to fully appreciate the light-refractive properties of the mineral. Specimens processed using other technologies should be called diamonds, supplementing the wording with an indication of the shape: marquis, princess and others.

The next factor influencing the cost of a diamond is its color. According to the regulations approved by the World Association of Diamond Bourses, experts distinguish between nine color groups of diamonds. Of those regularly encountered, the most expensive will be colorless stones and those that have a slight bluish tint. They are called pure diamonds. However, the most valuable stones are those of deep natural shades: red, green, blue, orange and pink. This coloring is called fancy.

The number of diamonds of natural saturated colors does not exceed several tens per million white stones. For example, Russian Emperor Paul I paid 100 thousand rubles for a small red diamond. For comparison: a cow in those days cost 5 rubles. Inexpressive stones of yellowish and brown tones, characteristic of most nuggets, are valued much less on the market.

The purity of a diamond means the absence of various defects outside and inside the stone. The concept of “defects” includes microcracks, scratches, chips, air bubbles and foreign inclusions. Clarity assessment is carried out at tenfold magnification of the diamond, which makes it possible to study its characteristics in detail. Based on the results of the inspection, the stone is classified into one of eleven purity groups. Diamonds that have no defects are classified as “intrinsically flawless.” Those defects that are visible to the naked eye are classified as “imperfect”.

Each diamond has a unique structure and characteristics. There are no two identical stones, just like two identical fingerprints. The common myth that a diamond cannot be broken once played a cruel joke on the Swiss mercenaries of King Louis XI. During one of the many internecine conflicts, they seized the jewels of Duke Charles the Bold. Having heard about the extraordinary hardness of diamonds, the soldiers decided to check the authenticity of the stones. The diamonds could not withstand the powerful blows of the hammer and crumbled. A huge amount of jewelry was thrown away because the Swiss considered it fake. At the end of the 15th century. The Archduke of Austria, doubting the bride's positive response, heeded the advice to back up his intentions with jewelry. Since then, the custom of accompanying a marriage proposal with a diamond ring has been popular all over the world.

How to spot fakes

In addition, sellers of fakes often mention the popular myth about the complete transparency of diamonds in water. This is actually fiction. The effect of invisibility can be achieved between those materials that have the same refractive index. The refractive index of water is 1, that of diamond is 2.4. Of all the diamond simulants, the closest in this characteristic to water is ordinary glass, the refractive index of which is 1.5. Thus, a real stone dropped into a glass will continue to sparkle, but a fake one will not.

It is almost impossible to distinguish a natural diamond from one created in a laboratory. Advanced technology makes it possible to synthesize artificial diamonds weighing up to 15 carats. In such a situation, the buyer should be embarrassed by the clearly reduced price, which may be tens of times less than the real one. There are no objective reasons for selling diamonds for next to nothing.

Processing and use

Story

One of the most famous processed nuggets is "Kohinoor". The name of the stone translated from Indian means “mountain of light”. A diamond weighing almost 800 carats was found in 56 BC. The first owners of the diamond were representatives of the Great Mughal dynasty. During its long life, “Kohinoor” was in the hands of several Persian monarchs, adorned the bracelet of an Indian king, and after the conquest of Hindustan by the British it ended up in Foggy Albion, where it was cut in a new way. Since 1911, the Kohinoor has adorned the small Royal State Crown of Great Britain and is considered the country's most famous jewel.

Another legendary diamond, named after Count Orlov, had a no less royal fate. This nugget also comes from India - it was found at the beginning of the 16th century. After cutting into a tall rose, the stone weighed 300 carats. Over the next 30 years, it adorned the throne of Shah Nadir, after which it was stolen and transported to Europe. In 1773, in one of the Amsterdam markets, the stunningly beautiful diamond was bought by the favorite of Catherine II, Count Grigory Orlov. The Russian queen, to whom “Derianur” was intended, ordered the stone to be inserted into the royal scepter and given a new name. Today, the golden scepter topped with this diamond is kept in the Diamond Fund of Russia.

Another legendary nugget, with a unique sapphire blue color, has gained fame as a fatal stone that brings misfortune to its owner.

The diamond was brought from India to France as a gift to King Louis XIV. It is believed that the plague epidemic came to Europe with it. At different times and for different reasons, all those who were the owners of the stone died. The French Princess de Lamballe was killed during the revolution, Queen Marie Antoinette was executed. The same fate awaited members of the family of banker Hope, the last owner of the diamond. Hope's son was poisoned, and his grandson was completely ruined. Named after a wealthy financier, this stone is the most expensive in the world. Experts estimate it at $200 million. With a weight of 45.5 carats, the cost of one unit of weight will cost a potential buyer almost 5 million dollars.

Stone in literature and art

This stone is no less popular among film directors. Everyone knows that the interior of the ship in the movie "Titanic" is almost completely identical to the original. But not many viewers are aware that in the story there is a real prototype of the diamond from the main character’s necklace.

The Heart of the Ocean stone was put up for auction at Christie's in 1995. The price of the exclusive lot was 7 million 791 thousand dollars. The diamond really has a rare blue color and is cut in the shape of a heart. The only difference between the film jewel and its prototype is the size. The real “Heart of the Ocean” weighs just under 14 carats, and the diamond that adorned the neck of the film’s main character appears to have a mass 30 times greater.

The cinematography also owes its appearance to the catchphrase about girls' best friends. After all, this was originally a line from a song sung by Marilyn Monroe in the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The stone sparkling on the body of Monroe’s heroine was presented to the actress by the owner of a large jewelry company, Meyer Rosenbaum. The purpose of the present was to help the girl promote the film on the screen. In 1990, the diamond was sold at one of the auctions for 297 thousand dollars.

Basic characteristics of diamonds

Diamond color

Diamond Clarity

It often happens that in pursuit of weight, which is very important, the diamond is cut without observing strict geometric proportions. As a result, having received a larger stone, we get a diamond with an insufficiently beautiful play of light. The buyer may not pay attention to this, being tempted by the weight. But only the seller will benefit from this. Therefore, it is better to try to buy a stone with the most correct geometric proportion. Especially when it comes to diamonds weighing more than one carat.

Diamond cut shapes

Diamond weight

/ mineral Diamond

“Indestructible” is translated from ancient Greek as the name of the hardest mineral found on earth. The high degree of light refraction ensures the play of the jewelry diamond. Glows in ultraviolet and x-rays, many glow in the dark after being exposed to light. The largest deposits in Russia are located in Yakutia and the Arkhangelsk region. Diamond has long been considered the stone of kings, symbolizing strength and power; in India it is considered the main stone of the seventh chakra, which connects a person with Higher powers, feeding the brain, heart and etheric body with its vibrations.

Diamond is the king of all minerals. The hardest, the most expensive... this mineral has received all sorts of epithets. There is only one thing, ditherambs usually sing not to all diamonds, but only to jewelry diamonds, and this is a very small percentage of all mined stones. Here we will try to talk about all the diamonds and about those that jewelers cut in order to make a beautiful ring or necklace, and about those without which many sectors of the national economy are impossible. An ordinary glass cutter also contains a diamond; this stone is also inserted into drill bits. So not all diamonds go to the jewelry industry. It is difficult to give exact figures, but according to various sources, the share of mined diamonds that can become precious stones ranges from 10 to 20%. And the rest is used for industrial purposes.

Diamond is a cubic polymorphic (allotropic) modification of carbon (C), stable at high pressure. At atmospheric pressure and room temperature it is metastable, but can exist indefinitely without turning into graphite, which is stable under these conditions. In air, diamond burns at 850° C with the formation of CO 2; in a vacuum at temperatures above 1,500 ° C it turns into graphite. Colorless varieties are pure carbon. Colored and opaque diamonds contain impurities of silicon dioxide (SiO 2), magnesium oxide (MgO), calcium oxide (CaO), ferrous oxide (FeO), iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3), oxide titanium (TiO 2); graphite and other minerals are found in the form of inclusions. Types of diamond:

• Ballas - diamond spherulites of a spherical or similar shape with a radial-radiant structure.
• Board (boart, bort) - diamond aggregates of irregular shape, fine- and coarse-grained.
• Carbonado (carbonado) - hidden or microcrystalline aggregates of diamond, dense or porous.
• Yakutit (yakutite) - a diamond with an abundance of inclusions, due to which it has a dark color, was named after the place of extraction.

Diamond is the hardest mineral. Its hardness is 10 on the Mohs scale and this is the maximum. The absolute hardness of diamond is 1000 times higher than the hardness of quartz and 150 times the hardness of corundum.

The density of the mineral is 3.5-3.52, this is certainly not a record, but it is also a lot. For diamonds, the characteristic crystal shapes are octahedrons and dodecahedrons (tetrahedrons); fusion twins occur; crystals are sometimes characterized by etching patterns, shading, curvature of edges, and irregular, distorted crystals are observed.

Crystal structure

Face-centered cube lattice; each atom is surrounded by four others arranged in a tetrahedron. Cleavage. Octahedron perfect (111), brittle. P. tr. In powder, it burns on a platinum wire to form carbon dioxide (CO3); when access to air is stopped and at a temperature of 1500°C, it turns into graphite. Behavior in acids. Insoluble.

Origin

At the moment, there is no exact, scientifically proven theory of the origin of diamonds. There are a wide variety of hypotheses, but the majority of scientists are inclined towards the magmatic and mantle theories. At great depths (120-200 km), carbon atoms under high pressure (45-60 thousand atmospheres) and at high temperatures (900-1300 ° C) form a cubic crystal lattice - diamond. Rocks containing diamonds are brought to the surface using “explosion tubes.” There are also diamonds of meteorite (extraterrestrial) origin. When large meteorites fall during impact metamorphism, diamonds can also be formed, for example, in the Popigai astrobleme in northern Siberia.

Related Minerals

• in kimberlites: forsterite, phlogopite, pyrope, diopside, ilmenite;
• in placers: ilmenite, garnets, rutile, brookite, anatase, hematite, magnetite, tourmalines, gold, zircon, topaz

Diamonds are also obtained artificially.

A little history

Five thousand years ago, people became aware of the most beautiful stone, the diamond, which was mesmerizing in its beauty, captivating the souls and minds of many. Thousands of novels and stories, hundreds of films and millions of human destinies are connected with this charming stone. By its nature, it fully justifies its proud name, given to it by the ancient Greeks. Diamond in translation means indomitable. HE stubbornly defies the hands of a grinder and the insightful mind of a scientist, chemical reagents and the mighty power of time.

The ancient Hindus had a belief regarding the composition of diamonds, or rather the proportions of the basic elements of the universe contained in them, i.e. - water, earth, air, sky and energy. If the base of the stone is earth, then the diamond is dense; water - smooth, transparent, heavy; air - the diamond is pointed and light; if it has the advantage of heaven - the stone is clean, exceptionally shiny and has sharp edges; Diamonds, which have energy as their main essence, most often have a blood-red light.

Also, each type was given its own magical properties: a watery diamond gives fame, wealth and satisfaction, an earthy diamond contributes to the conquest of absolute earthly power, aerial diamonds gave cordiality and grace, heavenly health, and those in which energy was the basis - courage, power, hope. Struck by its splendor and durability, they dedicated it to their deities and placed it at the head of precious stones.

Articles on the topic

• From the history of stone
  

  The extraordinary properties of diamond have given rise to many legends. The ability to bring good luck is just one of the countless properties attributed to diamonds.

• Famous diamonds
  

  Diamond "Kohinoor", "Cullinan VI", Raja Maltansky, Orlov

• The name "diamond" comes from the word "adamas"
  

  Diamond has taken first place among precious stones since its skillfully cut forms, known as diamonds, revealed the full perfection of the amazing properties of this mineral.

• 
  

  The play of colors and brilliance of a diamond are beautiful, but its most remarkable properties are its hardness and chemical resistance.

• History of the Shah Diamond
  

  weighing 90 carats (or 18 g) - yellow in color but very transparent, 3 cm long - was found in Central India, probably in 1450.

• History of the Hope Diamond
  

  There are more legends associated with the HOPE diamond than with any other stone in the world. In addition to its size and unusual deep blue color, it can boast of the mysterious and mystical status of a cursed stone.

• Crystalline modification of pure carbon
  

  Diamond is a crystalline modification of pure carbon, formed in the deep interior of the Earth, in the upper mantle at depths of more than 80-100 kilometers, at exceptionally high pressure and temperature.

• Where and how are diamonds mined?
  

  Currently, diamonds are mined from two types of deposits: primary (kimberlite and lamproite pipes) and secondary – placers.

• Russian diamond cutting
  

  Diamond cutting factories began to be built in the USSR soon after the discovery of diamond deposits in Yakutia.

• 
  

  The cost of diamonds is traditionally calculated in US dollars per 1 carat. Weight, color, clarity, cut quality, known as the 4 Cs, are the main factors that determine the value of a diamond.

• 
  

  Assessing the quality of a cut is closely related to the human perception of a stone, since a well-cut stone is perceived by humans as beautiful and evokes positive emotions.

• The history of a diamond begins simultaneously with the history of a diamond!
  

  We have 7 factories in our country, the main one of which is located in Smolensk. The quality of Russian white diamonds is considered one of the best in the world. The Alrosa company mines diamonds, mainly white and yellow. “Most of the minerals mined (Alrosa) and cut (Kristall) go to the West.

• 
  

  Black diamonds, or carbonados, are one of the rarest and most mysterious minerals on our planet. New confirmation of their extraterrestrial origin has recently been received.

• 
  

  Certified diamonds appeared on the Russian market on September 7, 1997. On this day, German Kuznetsov, then the head of the Gokhran of Russia, held a conference at which he showed the audience the first certified diamond in Russia, packaged in plastic.

• Polycrystalline diamond aggregates
  

  In addition to single crystals, diamonds often form regular and irregular intergrowths

• Diamond is a rare native element
  

  The hardest and most expensive, the rarest and most attractive, the most chemically resistant and the most brilliant cut.

• Determining the quality of cut and visual perception of the beauty of a diamond
  

  Factors that determine the quality of the cut and how a person perceives the appearance of a diamond can be divided into several main groups...

• Discoloration of diamonds. Is there a crisis coming in the diamond market?
  

  There have been reports in diamond periodicals and on the INTERNET (RapNet) that the LKI company is starting to sell diamonds subjected to bleaching using a special technology through a specially created company in Antwerp called POL.

Personalized diamond "Leonid Vasilyev" weighing 54.05 carats

Diamond- the hardest mineral, cubic polymorphic (allotropic) modification of carbon (C), stable at high pressure. At atmospheric pressure and room temperature it is metastable, but can exist indefinitely without turning into graphite, which is stable under these conditions.

Structure

Morphology

Diamond morphology is very diverse. It occurs both in the form of single crystals and in the form of polycrystalline intergrowths (“board”, “ballas”, “carbonado”). Diamonds from kimberlite deposits have only one common flat-faceted shape, the octahedron. At the same time, diamonds with characteristic curved shapes are common in all deposits - rhombic dodecahedroids (crystals similar to a rhombic dodecahedron, but with rounded edges), and cuboids (crystals with a curved shape). As experimental studies and the study of natural samples have shown, in most cases, dodecahedroid-shaped crystals arise as a result of the dissolution of diamonds by kimberlite melt. Cuboids are formed as a result of the specific fibrous growth of diamonds according to the normal growth mechanism.

Synthetic crystals grown at high pressures and temperatures often have cube faces and this is one of their characteristic differences from natural crystals. When grown under metastable conditions, diamond easily crystallizes in the form of films and columnar aggregates.

The sizes of the crystals vary from microscopic to very large, the mass of the largest diamond, "Cullinan", found in 1905. in South Africa 3106 carats (0.621 kg). Diamonds weighing more than 15 carats are rare, but diamonds weighing over a hundred carats are unique and are considered rarities. Such stones are very rare and often receive their own names, world fame and their special place in history.

Origin

Although diamond is metastable under normal conditions, due to the stability of its crystalline structure it can exist indefinitely without turning into a stable modification of carbon - graphite.

Diamonds that are brought to the surface by kimberlites or lamproites crystallize in the mantle at a depth of 200 km. or more at a pressure of more than 4 GPa and a temperature of 1000 - 1300 ° C. In some deposits there are also deeper diamonds removed from the transition zone or from the lower mantle.
Along with this, they are carried to the Earth's surface as a result of explosive processes accompanying the formation of kimberlite pipes, 15-20% of which contain diamond.

Diamonds are also found in ultra-high pressure metamorphic complexes. They are associated with eclogites and deeply metamorphosed garnet gneisses. Small diamonds have been found in significant quantities in meteorites. They have a very ancient, pre-solar origin. They also form in large astroblemes - giant meteorite craters, where melted rocks contain significant amounts of fine-crystalline diamond. A well-known deposit of this type is the Popigai astrobleme in northern Siberia.

Diamonds are a rare, but at the same time quite widespread mineral. Industrial diamond deposits are known on all continents except Antarctica. Several types of diamond deposits are known. For several thousand years, diamonds have been mined from alluvial deposits. It was only towards the end of the 19th century, when the diamond-bearing kimberlite pipe was first discovered, that it became clear that diamonds did not form in river sediments.

In addition, diamonds were found in crustal rocks in associations of ultra-high pressure metamorphism, for example in the Kokchetav massif in Kazakhstan.

Both impact and metamorphic diamonds sometimes form very large-scale deposits, with large reserves and high concentrations. But in these types of deposits, the diamonds are so small that they have no industrial value.

Commercial diamond deposits are associated with kimberlite and lamproite pipes associated with ancient cratons. The main deposits of this type are known in Africa, Russia, Australia and Canada.

Application

Good crystals are cut and used in jewelry. About 15% of mined diamonds are considered jewelry, another 45% are considered near jewelry, i.e. inferior to jewelry in size, color or clarity. Currently, global diamond production is about 130 million carats per year.
Diamond(from the French brillant - brilliant), - a diamond, which through mechanical processing (cutting) is given a special shape, the so-called. brilliant cut, which maximizes the optical properties of the stone such as brilliance and color dispersion.
Very small diamonds and fragments, unsuitable for cutting, are used as an abrasive for the manufacture of diamond tools necessary for processing hard materials and cutting the diamonds themselves. A cryptocrystalline variety of diamond of black or dark gray color, forming dense or porous aggregates, is called Carbonado, has a higher abrasion resistance than diamond crystals and is therefore especially valued in industry.

Small crystals are also grown artificially in large quantities. Synthetic diamonds are obtained from various carbon-containing substances, Ch. arr. from graphite, in special apparatuses at 1200-1600°C and pressures of 4.5-8.0 GPa in the presence of Fe, Co, Cr, Mn or their alloys. They are suitable for technical use only.

CLASSIFICATION

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES

OPTICAL PROPERTIES

CRYSTALLOGRAPHIC PROPERTIES

Translation into other languages

Links

• See also: Benny Bouchera, Carbonado

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Diamonds are the most expensive gems. The presence of such a mineral in a person indicates the wealth of the owner. Therefore, stones are of great interest not only for lovers of jewelry and expensive accessories, but also for scientists. What diamond consists of and the properties of the substance continue to be studied today - this is necessary for the synthesis of artificial material and the use of diamonds to their full extent.

Diamonds in the rough

Diamond is mined in nature. The source of the stone is kimberlite and lamproite pipes. Most of them are located in countries such as:

1. Australia.
2. Russia.
3. Brazil.

Extraction is carried out industrially. Along with the rocks, stones are taken out of the pipes, which undergo further classification and processing by gemologists and jewelers.

Stone composition

Chemists and physicists, in turn, studied the composition of the substance. At the beginning of the 18th century, it was discovered that diamond consists solely of carbon. That is, the stone does not have a chemical formula as such.

In the periodic table of Mendeleev, the element is designated as “C”. This is how the formula of the stone is written, in one letter. The atomic mass of the substance is 16. Carbon in diamond retains its properties and has an interesting configuration.

Allotropic modifications

Diamond is a huge carbon molecule. In addition to diamond, other substances are made of carbon, such as:

• graphite;
• lonsdaleite;
• soot, coal;
• carbon nanotubes;
• fullerenes.

But all these materials have different appearance and different properties. All this is explained by the existence of allotropic modifications. This means that carbon atoms are arranged in space and bond with each other in different ways. The configuration of atoms along with their bonds is called a crystal lattice. It is different for all substances, but for diamond it deserves special attention.

We need to start with the fact that in diamond, carbon atoms are connected to each other by covalent sigma bonds. This is the strongest type of chemical bond. In addition to it, there are also ionic, metallic, disulfide and hydrogen bonds. They are much weaker than covalent bonds and are not present in the diamond structure.

The unit cell of a diamond, that is, the unit of structure, has the shape of a cube. Scientifically, this is called cubic syngony.

The spatial arrangement of atoms and their connection is called a crystal lattice. It is its structure that determines such characteristics as the hardness of a substance. The unit cell of a diamond structure looks like a cube. That is, diamond, to use scientific terminology, crystallizes in the cubic system.

The vertices of the cube are carbon atoms. There is also one atom in the center of each face, and four more elements are in the center of the cube itself. Those carbon atoms that are located in the center of the face are common to two cells, and those located at the vertices of the cube are common to eight cells. The distances between the atoms are symmetrical, identical in length. The bonds between elements are covalent-sigma.

Since each atom is connected to at least four neighboring atoms, there are no free elements left in the diamond and the stone is an excellent dielectric.

The hardness of diamond is explained by such a dense packing of the substance. But allotropic modifications of carbon have a different spatial structure with the same composition.

Crystal lattice of diamond and graphite

For example, graphite has a configuration with weaker bonds in space, covalent pi compounds. And fullerenes are generally molecules, not carbon atoms. Their composition and substance itself were discovered relatively recently - in the 19th century.

Due to its structure, diamond is the hardest substance. This is due precisely to the structure, and not the composition of the stone.

But not only diamond has such a “packing” of atoms, although only this mineral has great hardness. All substances from group 4 have a structure similar to diamond. But since the atomic mass of these elements is greater than that of diamonds, the distance between the atoms is also greater and the bonds, accordingly, weaker.

But not everything in nature is ideal. Even a diamond has its flaws. The stone may contain foreign elements that got into the lattice during the formation of the stone. Among them there are such substances as:

• aluminum;
• calcium;
• magnesium;
• granite;
• water;
• gases and carbon dioxide.

These substances disrupt the structure of the diamond and ideally should not be present in the composition. They are embedded in the crystal lattice and also affect the hardness of the stone and its shade. A stone with ideal characteristics is called a diamond or a pure diamond. But if such impurities exist, they can affect the number and size of stone defects or form independent inclusions.

Structural defects can be located either on the edge of the diamond or in the center. Sometimes you can get rid of them by cutting them by a professional jeweler. This procedure turns a diamond into a diamond and reveals all its advantages. Defects most often include microcracks, cloudy clouds, or inclusions of other substances.

Diamonds with a large number of defects are sent to industry, where they are used to make diamond chips. The ideal structure and composition can only be found in artificial diamonds.

The production of synthetic minerals began in the fifties of the last century. Before this, scientists knew about the composition of a diamond, but did not have the necessary equipment to synthesize the mineral. Since laboratory diamond production conditions are harsh, not only special temperatures and pressures are required, but also stone seeds and graphite are required. The procedure is expensive, so mass production does not yet exist. Diamonds have specifications and are manufactured in this way for the needs of the industry.

In nature, the mineral is mined from pipes. Sometimes not the entire stone is removed, but only its chip. The fact that there is still some diamond left in the soil can be said only after studying the structure under a microscope. The exact origin of diamond is unknown; there are several hypotheses about why carbon acquired this shape. One theory speaks of chemical reactions that occurred in the ground after sudden temperature changes and the rise of magma to the surface. The second hypothesis states that the stone fell to the ground after a massive fall of meteorites as part of celestial bodies.

Characteristics of the mineral

The stone has the following properties, which are determined by the composition of the mineral:

• Hardness is 10 out of 10 on the Mohs scale, and this is due to the crystal lattice of carbons.
• The density of the substance is 3.5 g/cm3. At the same time, the stone is very fragile. It can split when struck along parallel edges, which is called cleavage.
• The mineral should be transparent. A jewelry stone will cost more if it contains fewer impurities. After cutting, the diamond plays in the light.
• If you expose a mineral to X-ray radiation, the structure of the diamond will be disrupted. The lattice will loosen and become loose, and the stone itself will emit light of a blue or green hue.
• The color of a diamond can range from clear to black. Fantasy stones that have a rich yellow or pinkish color are considered expensive.

Diamond is used not only in jewelry. The stone is actively used in industry due to its characteristics. Basically, all abrasives and cutting surfaces are coated with a hard substance - diamond chips. Thus, the quality of work improves and less time is spent on its completion.

Diamonds are minerals that have a simple composition but a complex structure, so the study of stones and their properties continues to this day. Diamonds are valued in the jewelry industry, as well as in construction and medicine.