Diamond acts as a perfect electrical insulator but exhibits exceptionally high thermal conductivity. β p Block Elements Chemistry Question
Question
Diamond acts as a perfect electrical insulator but exhibits exceptionally high thermal conductivity. What structural feature uniquely accounts for these combined properties?
Answer: B
π‘ Solution & Explanation
In diamond, all carbon atoms are $sp^3$ hybridized, and all four valence electrons are locked in strong localized $\sigma$ bonds. The lack of mobile electrons makes it an electrical insulator, but its highly rigid 3D tetrahedral lattice allows rapid transfer of thermal energy via phonons.
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