Discussion Overview
The discussion centers on the oxidation of diamond, specifically whether covalent bonds must be broken for this process to occur and the implications of heating diamond in an oven at 150 degrees Celsius. Participants explore the theoretical aspects of the reaction, including activation energy and reaction rates.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested
Main Points Raised
- One participant questions if covalent bonds need to be broken for diamond oxidation to occur.
- Another participant asserts that diamond oxidizes to CO2 when heated in air, although they are uncertain if 150°C is sufficient for this reaction.
- A third participant references a study indicating that the activation energy for diamond oxidation is 220 kJ/mol and calculates that at 140°C, the reaction would take an extraordinarily long time (480 million years) to occur, expressing uncertainty about their reasoning.
- Subsequent comments clarify that the calculated time may not represent when the reaction starts but rather when observable effects might be noted, suggesting a need for further clarification on the definition of characteristic time.
- Participants humorously note that the effectiveness of the reaction depends on how long one is willing to wait.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the sufficiency of 150°C for diamond oxidation, and there are differing interpretations of the calculated reaction time and its implications.
Contextual Notes
The discussion includes assumptions about the definitions of reaction times and the conditions under which oxidation occurs, which remain unresolved.
