Diamond crystallizes in which crystal system?

Diamond crystallizes in which crystal system?

• A. Cubic
• B. Hexagonal
• C. Tetragonal
• D. Monoclinic

Answer: (A)

Diamond exhibits a cubic crystal system because its carbon atoms form a face-centered cubic lattice, giving a cube-shaped unit cell with equal edges and right-angle corners. This high-symmetry arrangement leads to the characteristic cubic geometry of diamond crystals. The other crystal systems have distinct axis relationships that diamond does not share: hexagonal requires a=b and c different with a 120-degree angle between the a- and b-axes; tetragonal has a=b≠c with all angles 90 degrees; monoclinic involves unequal axes with an oblique angle. Since diamond’s lattice has a=b=c and all angles 90 degrees, it fits the cubic system.

Diamond exhibits a cubic crystal system because its carbon atoms form a face-centered cubic lattice, giving a cube-shaped unit cell with equal edges and right-angle corners. This high-symmetry arrangement leads to the characteristic cubic geometry of diamond crystals. The other crystal systems have distinct axis relationships that diamond does not share: hexagonal requires a=b and c different with a 120-degree angle between the a- and b-axes; tetragonal has a=b≠c with all angles 90 degrees; monoclinic involves unequal axes with an oblique angle. Since diamond’s lattice has a=b=c and all angles 90 degrees, it fits the cubic system.