Question

Name a non- metal having a very high melting point.

Answer 1

Hint: The non-metal is an allotrope of carbon. It forms a very complicated complex covalent structure between the carbon atoms. Thus the melting temperature of the carbon allotrope became very high.

Complete step by step answer:
As we know carbon is extremely widespread in nature. It is a very essential constituent of all living organisms as it is present in proteins, carbohydrates, in the process of photosynthesis and many more.
Carbon belongs to the p- block family having group numbers equal to \[14\]. Carbon occurs in nature in a large number of allotropic forms. These mainly include the diamond, graphite, fullerenes, etc.
Diamond being the allotrope of carbon is a non-metal which possesses the highest melting point among all the non-metals.
Among all other forms of carbon, diamond is extremely unreactive. They are typically colourless.
In diamond each carbon atom is tetrahedrally surrounded by four other carbon atoms each at a distance of \[1.54{A^\circ }\]. The tetrahedral units present in the structure of diamond are linked together into a three-dimensional giant molecule. The unit cell is cubic. Strong covalent bonds extended in all directions.
 Thus the melting point of diamond is abnormally high about \[{3930^\circ }C\] and the structure is too hard.

Note:
Most naturally occurring diamonds contain a trace of nitrogen. But ‘blue diamonds’ contain a trace of aluminium. These diamonds are very rare and hence are too expensive as compared to the normal diamonds.