Why diamond is a hardest structure

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SUMMARY

The diamond lattice structure is recognized as the hardest known material due to its unique bonding characteristics. Each carbon atom in diamond forms four strong covalent bonds with adjacent atoms in a tetrahedral configuration, resulting in exceptional hardness. In contrast, while simple cubic structures connect atoms to six neighbors, they do not achieve the same strength due to weaker bonding types. Additionally, zinc sulfide (ZnS) shares a similar geometrical structure but lacks the same hardness as diamond due to its ionic bonding nature, which is inherently weaker than the covalent bonds found in carbon.

PREREQUISITES
  • Covalent bonding principles
  • Understanding of atomic valency
  • Knowledge of crystal lattice structures
  • Comparison of ionic vs. covalent bonds
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  • Research the properties of covalent bonds in materials
  • Study the tetrahedral geometry in crystal structures
  • Explore the differences between ionic and covalent bonding
  • Investigate other materials with diamond-like structures
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Materials scientists, chemists, and anyone interested in the properties of hard materials and their bonding structures.

Goodver
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Why diamond lattice structure is a hardest (?) one?

If it is because each atom connected to 4 adjacent, then why simple cubic, where each atom connects to 6 adjacent is not the case?

And why ZnS having the same geometrical structure is not as strong as, say, carbon, or silicon diamond?

Thank you.
 
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Carbon has a valency of 4, so it prefers to form bonds with four neighbours in a tetrahedral environment.
Zn and S have a valency of only two, though the bonding in ZnS is mostly ionic, which is not as strong as the covalent bonds in C.
 

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