Question

Diamond is the hardest compound.
State whether the given statement is true or false.
A. True
B. False

Answer 1

Hint: Diamond has only pure carbon in its structure. All carbons in the diamond are bonded together with sigma bond only. There will be no other element other than carbon in pure form of diamond. If we apply more energy than the covalent bond energy then the bond will break.

Complete answer:
- In the question there is a statement that diamond is the hardest compound and we have to find the statement is true or false.
- We know that diamond is the chemical present in nature then it is called a natural chemical.
- Diamond is strong in nature due to its closed packed structure.
- But two more chemicals are there and they are not available in nature and prepared in a laboratory.
- The two chemicals prepared in the laboratory are Wurtzite boron nitride and lonsdaleite.
- Hence Wurtzite boron nitride and lonsdaleite are called synthetic chemicals.
- The simulation studies have shown that Wurtzite boron nitride holds up to 18 % more stress than the diamond.
- The simulation studies have shown that lonsdaleite holds up to 58 % more stress than the diamond.
- Therefore diamond is not that much harder than the above two mentioned chemicals.

So, the statement is false.

Note:
The strength of the diamond is going to depend on the bond energy of the carbon – carbon atoms. Everybody believes that diamonds are stronger in nature. But few chemicals synthesized in the laboratory are stronger than the diamond.