when diamonds burn in presence of pure oxygen
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Answer:
The pure carbon of a diamond interacts with oxygen in the air and disappears to form carbon dioxide. If you heat a diamond to about 763° Celsius (1405° Fahrenheit), it will turn to vapor. At normal temperatures and normal pressure, a diamond is hard as a rock.
Answer:
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ARTICLE
Diamonds Aren’t Forever
If diamonds are too tough to evaporate, how do they turn to vapor?
GRADES
7 - 12+
SUBJECTS
Chemistry, Physics
CONTENTS
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25
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Diamond Rings
Diamonds don't evaporate at high temperatures—in fact, under normal atmospheric pressure, they don't evaporate at all. At about 763° Celsius (1,405° Fahrenheit), however, diamonds oxidize. The pure carbon of a diamond interacts with oxygen in the air and disappears to form carbon dioxide.
PHOTOGRAPH BY VICTOR R. BOSWELL, JR., NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Eight synthetic diamond rings, fifth from right is a real diamond.
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BACKGROUND INFO FAST FACTS VOCABULARY
If you heat a diamond to about 763° Celsius (1405° Fahrenheit), it will turn to vapor.
At normal temperatures and normal pressure, a diamond is hard as a rock. In fact, diamonds are some of the hardest rocks on Earth. At normal atmospheric pressure, diamonds will not evaporate at all.
If diamonds are too tough to evaporate, how do they turn to vapor?
They oxidize. Oxidation describes a chemical reaction in which oxygen interacts with other substances. Oxygen is a major part of our atmosphere, and substances oxidize all around us, all the time. Rust, for instance, is an example of the oxidation of iron. Rust is also known as iron oxide.
Diamonds are a form of pure carbon. As carbon oxidizes, the chemical reaction forms the everyday gases carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. These are the vapors that a diamond becomes at such high temperatures.