Question

The carbon atoms in diamond are bonded to each other by:
(A) Ionic bond
(B) Coordinate bond
(C) Hydrogen bonds
(D) Covalent bonds

Answer 1

Hint: Carbon has an atomic number as 6. It has four valence electrons. Carbon atoms have a tendency to link with one another via covalent bonds and form rings and chains. This property is called catenation. Diamond is a crystalline form of carbon.

Complete step by step solution:
-Carbon belongs to group 14 in the periodic table.
-atomic number of carbon is 6. electronic configuration in ground state is \[1{{s}^{2}}2{{s}^{2}}2{{p}^{2}}\]. Electronic configuration of carbon in excited state is $1{{s}^{2}}2{{s}^{1}}2{{p}^{3}}$
-Carbon differs from rest of members from its group because of its smaller size, higher electronegativity, higher ionization enthalpy, unavailability of d orbitals.
-In carbon only s and p orbitals are available for bonding hence it can accommodate only four pairs of electrons.
-Carbon atoms have a tendency to link with one another via covalent bonds and form rings and chains. This property is called catenation.
-due to the property of catenation, carbon exhibits many allotropic forms both crystalline and amorphous.
-Diamond is a crystalline form of carbon. Diamond has crystalline lattice. In diamond each carbon has \[s{{p}^{3}}\] hybridization. Each carbon atom is linked to four other carbon atoms in a tetrahedral fashion.
-In this structure, directional covalent bonds are present in the entire lattice.
-It is very difficult to break extended covalent bonds So diamond is the hardest substance on earth.

The carbon atoms in diamond are bonded to each other by (D) Covalent bond.

Note: Due to the property of catenation and ability to form pi bonds, carbon can exhibit allotropic form. In diamond, each carbon atom undergoes $s{{p}^{3}}$ hybridization and is linked to four other carbon atoms. Diamond has extended covalent bonding so it is the hardest substance on earth and it does not conduct electricity as it does not have free electrons. It is used as an abrasive to sharpen hard tools.