Question

Name the hardest non-metal?

Answer 1

The hardest non-metal:

• Non-metals are defined as those elements which have the tendency to form negative ions by accepting or gaining electrons.
• Diamond (carbon) is termed as the hardest naturally occurring substance, which is also nonmetal in nature.
• Diamond basically has a crystalline lattice in which each carbon atom is ${\mathrm{sp}}^3$hybridized and they are linked to four other carbon atoms where the $\mathrm{C}-\mathrm{C}$ bond length is $154\mathrm{pm}.$
• The hardest nature of diamond can be explained by the fact that its structure has been extended in space producing a 3-D network of carbon atoms having the directional covalent bonds throughout the lattice.
• And it is very much difficult to break those strong extended covalent bonds, which in turn makes diamond the hardest substance on the earth.
• The structure of the diamond can be given as:

Hence, the name of the hardest nonmetal substance is Diamond.