Multiple choice

Diamond is harder than graphite because ______.

  1. atoms are arranged in different layers in it

  2. of the tetrahedral structure of diamond

  3. of its crystalline structure

  4. none of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Diamond's hardness comes from its 3D crystalline structure where each carbon atom is covalently bonded to four others in a tetrahedral arrangement. This creates an extremely rigid 3D network. In contrast, graphite has weak van der Waals forces between 2D layers, making it soft. Option C correctly identifies the crystalline structure.

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