GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

Detailed explanation-1: -Diamond. It is the purest crystalline allotrope of carbon. It has a number of carbons, linked together tetrahedrally. Each tetrahedral unit consists of carbon bonded to four carbon atoms which are in turn bonded to other carbons.

Detailed explanation-2: -Each carbon atom in a diamond is covalently bonded to four other carbons forming a tetrahedral structure. These tetrahedrons together form a 3-dimensional network of carbon rings. This stable network of covalent bonds and hexagonal rings makes diamond the hardest allotrope of carbon and also the hardest mineral.

Detailed explanation-3: -Diamond and graphite are two allotropes of carbon: pure forms of the same element that differ in structure.

Detailed explanation-4: -Use the accompanying fact sheet and differentiated flash card activity to explore the different properties and uses of four allotropes of carbon – diamond, graphite, graphene and buckminsterfullerene.