Diamonds have been coveted since ancient times and were once believed to be tears of the gods. Historically, they have been associated with wealth and power, and their exceptional strength, beauty and durability are due to their unique molecular structure. Diamonds are considered to be the hardest of all natural materials. Their hardness and brilliance make them a desirable object in jewelry and other art forms.
Under normal pressure and temperature, diamond is the hardest known material as it must be scratched or cleaved with specialized tools to cut, shape and form. The hardness of a diamond is measured using a scale known as the Mohs Scale of Mineral Hardness. On this scale, the hardness of a diamond is rated a perfect 10, which makes it the hardest known material. Other materials rate hardness from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
Diamonds owe their hardness to their crystal structure. At the atomic level, diamond molecules are arranged in a strongly bound tetrahedral network. This structure is so strong that it cannot be penetrated by other materials. The intermolecular bond between diamond atoms is the strongest force in nature and is why a diamond cannot be scratched by any other material that does not itself have diamondlike intermolecular bonds. This is why diamonds are often used for cutting and engraving because nothing else can penetrate their surface.
As well as being the hardest substances known, diamonds also possess other special properties. They are the only natural material known to have the highest transparency (were light passes detailed and undisturbed) and the second highest refractive index (measuring of how much a material bends light passing through it). While diamonds are often beautiful and colourful they can also lack colour or form a yellow or brownish tint; in such cases they are known as crystal clarity diamonds.
Diamonds are known for their durability, as they can withstand heat, pressure and abrasive force much better than other materials. This makes them ideal for everyday wear and their use as industrial tools, such as for drilling and cutting.
In conclusion, diamonds are well known for their exceptional hardness, brilliance and durability. Thanks to the structure of their molecular bonds, nothing else can even begin to penetrate their surface. As the hardest natural material, diamonds are used for a variety of purposes, from jewelry to industrial tools. The hardness, beauty and durability of diamonds remain unsurpassed by other materials.
