The physical properties of diamonds: no melting point?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the physical properties of diamonds, specifically the absence of a melting point due to sublimation. When diamonds are heated, they transition directly from solid to gas without forming a liquid state, ultimately reverting to solid carbon in the form of charcoal upon cooling. The conversation highlights that at standard atmospheric pressure (1.0 atm), carbon does not exhibit a liquid phase, and a significant pressure of approximately 10.8 MPa (about 100 atmospheres) is required to achieve a liquid state for carbon.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of sublimation and phase transitions
  • Knowledge of carbon's physical properties
  • Familiarity with atmospheric pressure and its effects on states of matter
  • Basic comprehension of phase diagrams
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the phase diagram of carbon and its triple point at 10.8 MPa
  • Explore the sublimation process of various materials, including carbon dioxide (CO2)
  • Investigate the conditions required for liquid carbon to exist
  • Learn about the properties and applications of charcoal as a byproduct of carbon sublimation
USEFUL FOR

Students, chemists, and materials scientists interested in the physical properties of carbon and diamonds, as well as those studying phase transitions and sublimation processes.

h_hin
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I had heard an opinion from my high school teacher, but I can't understand??

"An experimental record of a French scientist.
He heats the diamond and sublimates it. After cooling, it turns back to solid barbecue carbon.
In this case, although there is a physical transition, the substance seems to be a chemical change.
This is just my personal opinion: the physical properties of diamonds are not suitable for describing as melting point"

What?
No melting point how it transition??
 
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Sublimation means it went directly from solid to gaseous state. There was no liquid state of the carbon in this case. Upon cooling of the gaseous carbon, it didn't make a diamond crystal, but rather simply charcoal. ## \\ ## I think there might exist a liquid form of carbon, but it would require enormous pressures to exist in the liquid state.
 
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Charles Link said:
Sublimation means it went directly from solid to gaseous state. There was no liquid state of the carbon in this case.
get it,but is it good for describing diamond as no melting point?
 
h_hin said:
get it,but is it good for describing diamond as no melting point?
See my added comment above about the liquid state. At 1.0 atmosphere, there is only a solid to vapor transition. The same is true for carbon dioxide. I believe ## CO_2 ## requires about 5 atmospheres in order to produce a liquid state. Let me see if I can get a phase diagram of ## CO_2 ##: https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/General_Chemistry/Map:_General_Chemistry_(Petrucci_et_al.)/12:_Intermolecular_Forces:_Liquids_And_Solids/12.4:_Phase_Diagrams ## \\ ## See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon It lists the triple point of Carbon as 10.8 MPa which is about 100 atmospheres of pressure. For pressures below this, there is no liquid phase of carbon.
 
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Charles Link said:
See my added comment above about the liquid state. At 1.0 atmosphere, there is only a solid to vapor transition. The same is true for carbon dioxide. I believe ## CO_2 ## requires about 5 atmospheres in order to produce a liquid state. Let me see if I can get a phase diagram of ## CO_2 ##: https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/General_Chemistry/Map:_General_Chemistry_(Petrucci_et_al.)/12:_Intermolecular_Forces:_Liquids_And_Solids/12.4:_Phase_Diagrams ## \\ ## See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon It lists the triple point of Carbon as 10.8 MPa which is about 100 atmospheres of pressure. For pressures below this, there is no liquid phase of carbon.

okay get it all,thanks!
 
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