Diamonds atoms are more closely bonded than the atoms of which of the following?

Diamonds atoms are more closely bonded than the atoms of which of the following?

• A. Any other natural material
• B. Ice
• C. Wood
• D. Metal

Answer: (A)

Diamons’ atoms are more strongly bonded than in the other natural materials because of its rigid covalent network. Each carbon in diamond forms four strong covalent bonds to neighboring carbons in a tight, three-dimensional lattice. That creates very high bond energy per atom and a structure that is extremely hard and resistant to deformation. Ice relies on hydrogen bonding between water molecules, which is much weaker than covalent bonds. Wood is a complex organic material with covalent bonds within polymers, but it lacks the dense, uniform 3D network seen in diamond. Metals are held together by metallic bonds with delocalized electrons; these bonds are strong but different in nature and, overall, not as localized and hard as the covalent network in diamond. So, among natural materials, diamond has the strongest, most closely bound atomic framework.

Diamons’ atoms are more strongly bonded than in the other natural materials because of its rigid covalent network. Each carbon in diamond forms four strong covalent bonds to neighboring carbons in a tight, three-dimensional lattice. That creates very high bond energy per atom and a structure that is extremely hard and resistant to deformation.

Ice relies on hydrogen bonding between water molecules, which is much weaker than covalent bonds. Wood is a complex organic material with covalent bonds within polymers, but it lacks the dense, uniform 3D network seen in diamond. Metals are held together by metallic bonds with delocalized electrons; these bonds are strong but different in nature and, overall, not as localized and hard as the covalent network in diamond.

So, among natural materials, diamond has the strongest, most closely bound atomic framework.