Is it possible to dissolve diamonds with water?

[pkt]

Is it possible to dissolve diamonds with water?

 

[alan2]

No.

 

[mfb]

Do you see any reason to expect that?

No. At least not in any relevant amount.

 

[pkt]

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-03/superheated-water-etches-diamond

Never underestimate dihydrogen monoxide.

 

[jedishrfu]

@pkt if you knew the answer why did you post the question?

PF is here to help students with questions from STEM subjects. We are a team of volunteers here trying to help out and we don't pose questions to fool others. It is our hope that you won't repeat this strategy in the future.

 

[mfb]

That is not really "dissolving diamonds in water". They superheated water and put it under extremely high pressure between diamonds and graphene. That damaged the diamond.

 

[alan2]

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-03/superheated-water-etches-diamond

Never underestimate dihydrogen monoxide.

They didn't dissolve diamond in water.

 

[ZapperZ]

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-03/superheated-water-etches-diamond

Never underestimate dihydrogen monoxide.

If this is what you mean by "dissolve", then you have a very strange and unconventional definition of it. So not only should you have posted this link at the very beginning of your post, you should have also revealed your personal definition of "dissolve".

Otherwise, this is not what we conventionally will call "dissolve".

Zz.

 

[nuuskur]

Smells like a philosopher's spirit. AFAIK, this community is not about that life.

 

[pkt]

[Mentor's note: Some unnecessary snark, in violation of the Physics Forums rules, has been edited out of this post]

Etching is very much dissolving.

 

[mfb]

You just didn't understand the article you linked later, or you phrased your question in a wrong way.

Can helium dissolve a diamond? No. But if you shoot helium nuclei (or atoms) at a diamond you can certainly etch some material away.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Etching is very much dissolving.

When you get to the bottom of a hole, it's best to stop digging.

What they are doing is not dissolving since the water does not contain any carbon in solution afterwards.

stump the egghead and I got two on the first try

Again, when you get to the bottom of a hole, it's best to stop digging.

 

[Vanadium 50]

But if you shoot helium nuclei (or atoms) at a diamond you can certainly etch some material away.

Or a laser. Does that mean carbon dissolves in light?

 

[Andy SV]

Any form of erosion will etch
But the process of abrasion with a non solvent will only form a suspension not a solution