What is the hardest natural substance found on Earth? A) Platinum B) Diamond C) Quartz D) Sapphire
VerifiedAnswer: B) Diamond
Explanation:
Diamond is indeed the hardest natural substance found on Earth. This exceptional hardness comes from its unique crystal structure, where carbon atoms are arranged in a three-dimensional lattice pattern with each carbon atom bonded to four other carbon atoms through strong covalent bonds.
The hardness of minerals is measured using the Mohs Scale of Hardness, which ranges from 1 to 10. Diamond sits at the top of this scale with a hardness rating of 10, making it significantly harder than all other naturally occurring substances. To put this in perspective, let's look at where the other options rank on this scale:
• Quartz has a hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale • Sapphire (a form of corundum) has a hardness of 9 • Platinum has a hardness of approximately 4-4.5
What makes diamond so incredibly hard is the arrangement of its atoms. In diamond's crystal structure, each carbon atom forms four strong covalent bonds with neighboring carbon atoms, creating a rigid three-dimensional network. This tetrahedral arrangement extends throughout the entire crystal, making it extremely difficult to break or scratch the material.
Interestingly, while diamond is the hardest natural substance, scientists have created synthetic materials that can be even harder under specific conditions. However, when we're talking about naturally occurring substances found on Earth, diamond remains unmatched in its hardness.
This exceptional hardness has made diamonds valuable not only for jewelry but also for industrial applications. Diamond-tipped tools are used for cutting, drilling, and grinding operations where extreme durability is required. The phrase "diamond cuts diamond" exists because diamond is so hard that only another diamond can effectively scratch or cut it.
