The specific gravity of a gem quality diamond is approximately...

The specific gravity of a gem quality diamond is approximately...

• A. 2.65
• B. 4.00
• C. 3.52
• D. 1.00

Answer: (C)

Specific gravity tells you how heavy a substance is compared with water. It’s basically the density of the material divided by the density of water, and since water is 1 g/cm³ at standard conditions, the SG is very close to the material’s density measured in g/cm³. Diamond has a density around 3.5 g/cm³, so gem-quality diamond is commonly cited with an SG of about 3.52. That value reflects its tightly packed carbon structure and high density relative to water. Why the other numbers don’t fit: 2.65 matches quartz, a much lighter mineral. 4.00 would indicate a density roughly 4 g/cm³, higher than typical diamond. 1.00 is just the density of water, far too light for a diamond. So the approximate specific gravity of gem-quality diamond is 3.52.

Specific gravity tells you how heavy a substance is compared with water. It’s basically the density of the material divided by the density of water, and since water is 1 g/cm³ at standard conditions, the SG is very close to the material’s density measured in g/cm³.

Diamond has a density around 3.5 g/cm³, so gem-quality diamond is commonly cited with an SG of about 3.52. That value reflects its tightly packed carbon structure and high density relative to water.

Why the other numbers don’t fit: 2.65 matches quartz, a much lighter mineral. 4.00 would indicate a density roughly 4 g/cm³, higher than typical diamond. 1.00 is just the density of water, far too light for a diamond.

So the approximate specific gravity of gem-quality diamond is 3.52.