Difference Between Diamond and Crystal

Diamond vs  Crystal

What is a Diamond? The name diamond was derived from a Greek word ‘ADAMO’ which means hardest steel. Diamond is one of the oldest materials found on earth. This hard and beautiful diamond was discovered approximately 1600 years back. These diamonds were basically discovered as a result of high temperature and high pressure at the site of meteorite impacts. Diamonds that are formed during this process are nonetheless considered young.

On the other hand, a crystal is a more general term that can refer to a lot of other materials, minerals or substances. We often observe crystals in our everyday life. Salt and sugar are two of the most common examples of crystals. Crystals consist of a material which is formed as a result of the arrangement of several molecules, atoms and or ions. They get their various shapes due to the unique arrangements of the said atoms and molecules.

With regard to their actual differences, foremost a diamond is formed as a result of highly pressurized carbon. It is also another type of crystal with the element carbon arranged in a tetrahedral crystalline fashion. However, crystals are minerals that come in various shapes, sizes and even colors. The diamonds is considered as the hardest material around whereas crystals, in general, are not that hard when compared to diamonds.

Crystals and diamonds both have the same composition but because their bonds are different, one is used as the “lead” in pencils while the other is very hard and shiny that makes it ideal for ring ornamentation. The bonding in diamonds is called sp3 hybridization of carbon. This is a fancy way of describing the state of covalent bonding in carbon. There’s no need to go deeper into the details about this bonding but needless to say, diamonds are EXTREMELY hard by nature because of the strength and directionality of that bonding.

Moreover, diamonds reflect much reflection whereas crystals don’t. Similarly diamonds are good conductors of heat whereas crystals are poor conductors of heat.

In summary, even though diamonds are still considered as crystals they still differ from each other because of the following reasons:

1. Diamonds are a form of carbon. They are formed under high heat and pressure deep within the earth’s crust. It is the hardest natural substance so to speak.

2. Crystal is a mineral that usually comes in various shapes, sizes and even colours. Diamonds are naturally irregular in shape but they can be formed into very smooth and perfect stones by employing certain crafty techniques.

3. Reflection and conduction level are higher in diamonds whereas the case is opposite for crystals in general.

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