Why does diamond have such a high boiling point?

Answer 1

In nonmetals such as diamond, thermal conductivity is created by lattice vibrations or atomic vibrations of the crystal to transfer energy . The atoms and bonds can be viewed as balls and springs connected together in a chain. When one end is heated, it starts to vibrate causing the next ball and spring to vibrate. This flows down the chain like a wave. The two factors affecting the efficiency of the heat transfer are the coupling between the atoms and how the waves propagate in the crystal and how the waves are scattered due to crystal imperfections. Diamond has extremely strong covalent bonds and so it has a high thermal conductivity [1].

[1] S. O. Kasap, Principles of electronic materials and devices, Third Edition, University of Saskatchewan, Canada: McGraw-Hill, page 151-152.

Answer 2

The molten form of diamond is not well understood. I don't believe that a sensible answer to this question is possible.

Diamond transforms into graphite as you heat it unless you keep the pressure really high. Some recent work (2008) on diamond high temperature and pressure avoiding this problem shows that it is possible to get molten diamond with solid diamond floating in it.

See the related link below for more information.

Answer 3

In a diamond you have covalent bonds between carbons these bonds are very strong and hence very strong to break. Diamonds do not actually melt they sublime.

While the forces that hold water molecules together in ice(mainly hydrogen bonding) are no where near as strong as the covalent bonds in carbon hence its melts at a much lower temperature.

Answer 4

Diamond has a very high melting point because each of the carbon atom is covalently bonded to the other four carbon atoms. The covalent bonds acting on them are very strong hence the high melting point.

Answer 5

Diamond is an allotrope of carbon where all the carbon atoms are tetrahedrally bonded with each other forming a three dimensional covalent network. Since the bonds are strong (covalent, network), diamond has a very high melting point and boiling point

Answer 6

because diamonds are not only made of carbon, wich is a non-metal, but are so dense, it takes longer for them to melt. also they might not melt at all, they might just burn!

-AnSwEr

Answer 7

It has a really high melting point because it is a macro molecule (giant molecule) and has very stong bonds.