Diamond is classified as a native element, placing it within a select group of minerals found in the Earth’s crust. This classification is based on its pure chemical nature and unique crystalline structure, formed through natural geological processes. Understanding this designation requires looking into the specific rules of mineralogy and the atomic arrangement of this substance.
What Defines a Native Element
A native element is a mineral that occurs in nature as a single, uncombined chemical element. For a substance to be classified in this group, it must exist in a pure state, meaning its atoms have not bonded with atoms of any other element to form a compound. These elements must also possess a distinct, naturally occurring crystal structure to meet the definition of a mineral.
The native element class is broadly divided into metals, semimetals, and nonmetals. Well-known examples of native elements include the metals gold and silver, which are often found uncombined due to their low chemical reactivity. Nonmetals like sulfur, which forms a distinctive yellow crystalline structure, also belong to this category. This classification system focuses strictly on the mineral’s elemental purity and its natural, structured occurrence.
Diamond’s Pure Chemical Composition
Diamond’s qualification as a native element rests on its composition being nearly 100% the element carbon, symbolized as C. It represents one of several structural forms, or allotropes, that pure carbon can adopt. Allotropes are different physical forms of the same element, and their internal arrangement dictates their macroscopic properties.
The most common comparison is between diamond and graphite, which are both composed solely of carbon atoms. While their chemical formula is identical, their dramatically different physical properties, such as hardness and color, stem entirely from how their carbon atoms are linked. This elemental purity is the fundamental requirement for carbon to be recognized as a native element, where diamond is specifically referred to as Native Carbon.
The Unique Crystalline Structure of Diamond
The physical form of diamond is defined by its highly ordered and extremely dense internal architecture, known as the diamond cubic crystal structure. In this arrangement, every single carbon atom is covalently bonded to four neighboring carbon atoms. These bonds are arranged in a precise three-dimensional tetrahedral configuration, with each atom sitting at the center of a tetrahedron formed by its four neighbors.
This extensive network of strong covalent bonds creates a continuous, rigid lattice that extends throughout the entire crystal. The resulting structure gives diamond its unparalleled physical characteristics, such as its designation as the hardest known natural material, scoring a 10 on the Mohs scale. This specific, naturally occurring crystalline structure of pure carbon, along with its high density (approximately 3.52 grams per cubic centimeter), is the final evidence confirming diamond’s classification as a native element.