Diamond's hardness and durability are primarily due to which factor?

Diamond's hardness and durability are primarily due to which factor?

• A. The polishing finish
• B. Impurities added after formation
• C. The mining method used
• D. The conditions under which it formed

Answer: (D)

The key idea is that diamond’s hardness and durability come from its crystal structure: a rigid, three-dimensional network of carbon atoms held together by very strong covalent bonds in a tetrahedral arrangement. This strong, continuous Bonding is established under the high-pressure, high-temperature conditions deep in the Earth where diamond forms. Those formation conditions influence the perfectness and stability of the lattice, which in turn determines how resistant the material is to being scratched or dented. The polishing finish only affects surface smoothness and shine, not the intrinsic strength of the bonds. Impurities added after formation don’t create that strong, uninterrupted network and can even disrupt it, while the mining method doesn’t alter the internal bonding. So, the environment and conditions under which the diamond formed are what chiefly govern its hardness.

The key idea is that diamond’s hardness and durability come from its crystal structure: a rigid, three-dimensional network of carbon atoms held together by very strong covalent bonds in a tetrahedral arrangement. This strong, continuous Bonding is established under the high-pressure, high-temperature conditions deep in the Earth where diamond forms. Those formation conditions influence the perfectness and stability of the lattice, which in turn determines how resistant the material is to being scratched or dented. The polishing finish only affects surface smoothness and shine, not the intrinsic strength of the bonds. Impurities added after formation don’t create that strong, uninterrupted network and can even disrupt it, while the mining method doesn’t alter the internal bonding. So, the environment and conditions under which the diamond formed are what chiefly govern its hardness.