Conquer Club

Is a diamond one single molecule?

I don't see why not... atoms held together by covalent bonds... sounds like a molecule to me.

no, its not.
that would be like saying the ocean is one molecule.

It's several chains of molecules linked together.

jonka wrote:no, its not.
that would be like saying the ocean is one molecule.

The molecules of water aren't linked though. It's just a bunch of H20's, with some NaCl and more contaminants.

Strife wrote:It's several chains of molecules linked together.

In a pure diamond?

john9blue wrote:

Strife wrote:It's several chains of molecules linked together.

In a pure diamond?

John is right, the carbon atoms are all linked together by covalent bonds (one carbon atom is bonded to four others).

LYR wrote:

john9blue wrote:

Strife wrote:It's several chains of molecules linked together.

In a pure diamond?

John is right, the carbon atoms are all linked together by covalent bonds (one carbon atom is bonded to four others).

There's no such thing as a "pure diamond"... it's just multiple carbon atoms, combined into carbon molecules, compressed and superheated and several molecules of such combined into chains which make the near indestructible lattice structure of the diamond.

A diamond is just several atoms of Carbon-14, each one combines with four other Carbon atoms to make a molecule. Thus, several molecules... otherwise you're an idiot to think a single molecule can be visible to the naked eye(Exception of DNA or something as such).

It's a giant covalent structure. This, though there is a continuous link between all atoms in it's makeup, is rarely described as a molecule.

a diamond is carbon that has been under alot of pressure
since i'm carbon does this make me a molecule

No, but if the bike in your avi was coal, you'd soon have a diamond.

jonesthecurl wrote:No, but if the bike in your avi was coal, you'd soon have a diamond.

jonesthecurl wrote:No, but if the bike in your avi was coal, you'd soon have a diamond.

your wit kills me

Strife wrote:There's no such thing as a "pure diamond"... it's just multiple carbon atoms, combined into carbon molecules, compressed and superheated

Superheated? That is not how natural diamonds are formed...

Strife wrote:and several molecules of such combined into chains which make the near indestructible lattice structure of the diamond.

Since when has a diamond been near indestructible? If I dropped it off of a skyscraper it would shatter into a million pieces. Hard, yes, but indestructible... no.

Strife wrote:A diamond is just several atoms

No, a diamond if comprised of much more than "several atoms..."

Strife wrote:of Carbon-14, each one combines with four other Carbon atoms to make a molecule.

They do not combine with each other, they all share electrons with each other, which is why it can be argued that a diamond is comprised of many covalently-bonded carbon atoms (therefore being one molecule).

Strife wrote:Thus, several molecules... otherwise you're an idiot

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

Strife wrote:to think a single molecule can be visible to the naked eye(Exception of DNA or something as such).

Since when has DNA been visible to the naked eye?

Danyael wrote:a diamond is carbon that has been under alot of pressure
since i'm carbon does this make me a molecule

You are comprised of carbon, yes, and a multitude of other elements. This is not to mention that those elements are not all covalently linked to each other.

Balsiefen wrote:It's a giant covalent structure. This, though there is a continuous link between all atoms in it's makeup, is rarely described as a molecule.

There is a bit of a technicality here. An atom of an element IS, by definition, also a molecule. So, a Carbon atom is a Carbon molecule.

However, when you say diamond, you refer to a particular structure. To form that structure takes more than one atom. I have seen references to it as "one" molecule and references to it as groups of molecules. Use the definition your instructors/employer wants.

jonka wrote:no, its not.
that would be like saying the ocean is one molecule.

Not quite. The ocean is a mixture of many elements and compounds, dissolved chemicals like salt, even suspended things like sand. They are not bonded like in a molecule. Diamonds are pure carbon.

Danyael wrote:a diamond is carbon that has been under alot of pressure
since i'm carbon does this make me a molecule

No, it makes you a lump of compressed coal.

This is just sad. Try google next time you want to say something, that way you know. I can't believe you seriously asked a question and are trying to answer it yourself, and you're giving yourself wrong answers. If you keep up this ignorant attitude you probably won't continue to get help on CC, so don't bother posting questions.

LYR wrote:

Strife wrote:There's no such thing as a "pure diamond"... it's just multiple carbon atoms, combined into carbon molecules, compressed and superheated

Superheated? That is not how natural diamonds are formed...

Superheat is how natural diamonds are formed... along with pressure.

Strife wrote:and several molecules of such combined into chains which make the near indestructible lattice structure of the diamond.

Since when has a diamond been near indestructible? If I dropped it off of a skyscraper it would shatter into a million pieces. Hard, yes, but indestructible... no.

No, the diamond would most definitely not shatter at all, crack, maybe(pushing it to extreme heights). Shatter, not unless the floor beneath was made of diamonds as well, even so pushing it. If a diamond would break from a simple fall they wouldn't have diamond tipped drills, which drill through nearly anything with the exception of man-made super metals.

Strife wrote:A diamond is just several atoms

No, a diamond if comprised of much more than "several atoms..."

Strife wrote:of Carbon-14, each one combines with four other Carbon atoms to make a molecule.

They do not combine with each other, they all share electrons with each other, which is why it can be argued that a diamond is comprised of many covalently-bonded carbon atoms (therefore being one molecule).

Wrong-o... you seem to be more and more ignorant with each passing sentence I read by you. ~ They're Carbon-Carbon bonds, which is why it is argued that they are made of several molecules, which are made of several atoms.

Strife wrote:Thus, several molecules... otherwise you're an idiot

Let he who is without sin cast the first stone...

Dun, dum, dumb... man, I heard ignorance is bliss.

Strife wrote:to think a single molecule can be visible to the naked eye(Exception of DNA or something as such).

Since when has DNA been visible to the naked eye?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molecule. "Oh the macro-molecule, me didn't know that is a molecule. heheAHHAHAH!"


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I believe that is wrong player, an atom by definition is not a molecule. This site should explain that quiet well: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/f ... /atom.html. Unless I missed your point and explanation of how you got to that conclusion, and you just proved many scientists wrong.

Strife wrote:I believe that is wrong player, an atom by definition is not a molecule. This site should explain that quiet well: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/f ... /atom.html. Unless I missed your point and explanation of how you got to that conclusion, and you just proved many scientists wrong.

Website wrote:A molecule is a combination of two or more atoms bonded together. For example, a molecule of water (designated by the symbol H2O) consists of two hydrogen atoms and an oxygen atom which are in a "relationship" — held together by an electric attraction.

Diamond Structure wrote:

How does that not describe diamond?

john9blue wrote:

jonka wrote:no, its not.
that would be like saying the ocean is one molecule.

The molecules of water aren't linked though. It's just a bunch of H20's, with some NaCl and more contaminants.

Yes they are, water molecules are polar.

Strife wrote:I believe that is wrong player, an atom by definition is not a molecule. This site should explain that quiet well: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/f ... /atom.html. Unless I missed your point and explanation of how you got to that conclusion, and you just proved many scientists wrong.

That definition was in an old textbook I had (ironically enough that hit the ashcan shortly after... lol). Actually, I have heard it said that it takes 2 atoms to make a molecule. I am not a chemist and won't argue the point.

The bottom line is that a diamond is bound by loose bonds and not usually considered a molecule.