Why does diamond have a high melting point?

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Study for the IGCSE Edexcel Chemistry Test. Access flashcards and multiple choice questions with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Why does diamond have a high melting point?

Explanation:
Melting point reflects how strongly the forces hold the solid together. Diamond is a giant covalent lattice where each carbon atom is bonded to four others in a rigid 3D network. Those covalent bonds are very strong, and melting requires breaking many of them across the whole structure, which needs a lot of energy. That’s why diamond has a very high melting point. It isn’t held together by weak intermolecular forces in molecules, it isn’t a metal, and density doesn’t determine melting point, so those options don’t explain the behavior.

Melting point reflects how strongly the forces hold the solid together. Diamond is a giant covalent lattice where each carbon atom is bonded to four others in a rigid 3D network. Those covalent bonds are very strong, and melting requires breaking many of them across the whole structure, which needs a lot of energy. That’s why diamond has a very high melting point. It isn’t held together by weak intermolecular forces in molecules, it isn’t a metal, and density doesn’t determine melting point, so those options don’t explain the behavior.

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