Multiple choice general knowledge science & technology

If you were to take a lump of coal and squeeze for a long time at very high temperatures, you would end up with:

  1. graphite

  2. Volcanic glass, also known as obsidian

  3. A smaller lump of coal

  4. a diamond
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Coal is composed primarily of carbon. Under extreme pressure and high temperature over geological time, the carbon atoms rearrange into a crystal lattice structure, forming diamonds. This process occurs deep within the Earth's mantle. Graphite is also formed from carbon but under different conditions.

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