Diamonds essays

Diamonds essays A diamond is Carbon in its most concentrated form. Its is composed solely of carbon, although traces of other elements may be present. Diamond is the hardest surface known to man, nothing can scratch a diamond except for another diamond. The reason diamonds are so hard is their molecular structure. The Carbon atoms are arranged very closely together in formations called crystal habits. In these arrangements, each carbon is bonded to four others with very strong bonds. Because the Carbon atoms are so close together, diamond is a very dense mineral in comparison to others with similar molecular composition. Diamonds density has been measured at 3.51 g/cm ³. Diamonds are valued for their luster and brilliance. The reason they are such a shiny gem is that they are very good at refracting, or bending, light. This causes the colors, or fire that seem to radiate from the sides of a diamond. Diamond also has the highest amount of reflectance of any transparent material. Stereotypically, diamonds are thought to be colorless, but in reality, colored diamonds have become very popular in both the market-place and the scientific world. Diamonds can be found in many colors, such as pink, red, purple, blue, white, and even black. Coming in contact with other elements causes these colors. Trace elements such as Nitrogen can cause a yellow diamond, while others, like boron, can cause blue Although diamonds have low electrical conductivity, they do have a very practical use aside from jewelry. Because they are excellent thermal conductors, they are often used in small machines to remove heat, causing them to run more efficiently. This also enables companies to make smaller devices. Because diamonds have such a high density, we know that they crystallize at very high temperatures under extreme pressure. Diamonds are prod ...