Dear Student, 1. Each carbon in diamond is sp3 hybridized and is bound to 4 other carbon atoms. 2. The electronic configuration of carbon is 1s2 2s2 2p2, i.e. with four valence electrons spread in the s and p orbitals. 3. In order to create covalent bonds in diamond, the s orbital mixes with the three p orbitals to form sp3 hybridization. Regards,