Chapter 5: Problem 15

Could you use crushed calcite to grind and form facets on a diamond? Why or why not? (E)

Short Answer

Expert verified

No, you cannot use crushed calcite to grind and form facets on a diamond. The reason is that calcite has a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale, while diamond has a hardness of 10. A substance must have equal or greater hardness to effectively scratch and grind another substance; calcite is much softer than diamond and therefore not suitable for this purpose. Instead, another diamond or a substance with comparable hardness should be used.

Step by step solution

1. Understand the Mohs Hardness Scale

Mohs hardness scale is a measure of the relative hardness of a mineral, which is based on the mineral's ability to scratch another mineral. The Mohs scale ranges from 1 to 10, with higher numbers indicating harder minerals. We will use this scale to compare the hardness of calcite and diamond.

2. Determine the hardness of calcite

Calcite is a mineral with a hardness of 3 on the Mohs scale. This means that it is relatively soft and can be easily scratched by substances with a higher hardness value.

3. Determine the hardness of diamond

Diamond is the hardest known natural substance and has a hardness of 10 on the Mohs scale. This indicates that diamond is highly resistant to scratching and can only be scratched by another diamond or substances with similar hardness.

4. Compare hardness of calcite and diamond

As we know, calcite has a hardness of 3 while diamond has a hardness of 10. This significant difference in hardness means that calcite is much softer than diamond.

5. Conclusion

Since calcite is much softer than diamond, it cannot be used to grind and form facets on a diamond. A substance must have equal or greater hardness to effectively scratch and grind another substance; in this case, calcite is not hard enough to scratch or wear away diamond surfaces. Another material, such as another diamond or a substance with comparable hardness, would be required for this purpose.

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Could you use crushed calcite to grind and form facets on a diamond? Why or why not? (E)

Short Answer

Step by step solution

1. Understand the Mohs Hardness Scale

2. Determine the hardness of calcite

3. Determine the hardness of diamond

4. Compare hardness of calcite and diamond

5. Conclusion

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