The physical properties of diamonds: no melting point?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the physical properties of diamonds, specifically addressing the concept of melting point and the behavior of carbon under different conditions. Participants explore the implications of sublimation and the existence of liquid carbon, as well as the transitions between solid, gas, and potential liquid states.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions a claim from a high school teacher regarding diamonds not having a melting point due to their sublimation directly to gas and returning to solid carbon.
  • Another participant explains that sublimation indicates a transition from solid to gas without passing through a liquid state, questioning the appropriateness of describing diamonds as lacking a melting point.
  • Some participants discuss the conditions under which carbon can exist in a liquid state, suggesting that high pressures are necessary for liquid carbon to form.
  • References to phase diagrams are made to illustrate the conditions required for liquid carbon and comparisons are drawn with carbon dioxide's phase behavior.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on whether diamonds can be accurately described as having no melting point, with some supporting the idea based on sublimation, while others argue about the conditions required for liquid carbon and its implications.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes assumptions about the behavior of carbon at various pressures and temperatures, and the implications of sublimation versus melting, which remain unresolved.

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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