Question

If there exists electropositive or electronegative charge in the carbon atoms of diamond, where all the valencies of one carbon atoms are fulfilled by another carbon atom only, how the atoms stay in place?

Answer 1

• diamond has a well-defined arrangement of sp3 carbon atoms, as each atom is connected to four others in a tetrahedral structure.

• For each of these, three bonds are missing;
• it has a single bond with one carbon atom inside the structure.

• Atoms at the edge of a crystal that have an unsatisfied valence are said to have "dangling bonds"
• " Many elements, in addition to carbon, can have dangling bonds.
• Dangling bonds is a subject of current interest because of the impact these structures can have on semiconductor properties.

• These dangling bonds are very similar to free radicals, except since they are immobilized in a solid, they are somewhat less reactive than free radicals in solution.
• Nonetheless, they can react with whatever materials they are exposed to, such as hydrogen, water vapor, oxygen, etc.