Why is diamond hard yet brittle?

Answer 1

Diamond is the hardest of naturally occurring materials because it is composed of extremely small atoms (carbon) packed extremely tightly where they share atoms in a type of bonding known as covalent bonding.

Answer 2

Diamond is composed of atoms of carbon that are placed very close to each other. This tight packing causes the atoms to form close bonds - a feature referred to as covalent bonding.

The tight packing is often referred to as lattice densityand since the diamond atoms are more tightly packed than any other naturally occurring material, coupled with covalent bonding, it assumes extreme hardness-- atoms in a rigid network

Answer 3

Diamond is a member of a group called the "covalent network" substances.

Essentially what this means is that the atoms in it are stuck together in a rigid structure with very strong bonds, meaning that it is difficult to break. This also means it cannot be bent very much. If those bonds are broken, the atoms cannot stick back together and the diamond will break.

This can be compared to metals, which are atoms held together by a "sea" of electrons. When metals are impacted or bent, the sea just bends with the atoms inside it and holds it all together.

Answer 4

The arrangement of the carbon atoms into the diamond crystals is the key to the hardness. In diamond the format is regular and interlinked. In graphite the format is in sheets that make for softer presentation. Soot is another form of purecarbon but in a very soft amorphous arrangement.

Answer 5

created at extreme pressure and temperature, are made of carbon

Answer 6

A diamond is the hardest naturally occurring substance known to man. Diamonds are so strong because of the structure of the carbon atoms inside of them forming a pyramid shape.

Answer 7

The hardness of diamonds is due to the crystal structure of the carbon atoms.

Answer 8

Diamond has an extremely strong covalent bonding between carbon atoms; today diamond is not considered the hardest material, Today the hardest material is Aggregated diamond nanorods.