PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS

• IS A DIAMOND AN ELEMENT?

The periodic table of elements is only for, well, elements. A diamond is not an element, it is a mineral. An element is a compound or molecule that cannot be broken down into anything smaller, example: hydrogen, oxygen, even gold. Diamond isn't an element therefore it cannot be in the periodic table. It is a compound composed completely of Carbon, an element with atomic number 12. Graphite is also completely composed of Carbon yet is very different to diamond in its physical and chemical properties. i.e diamond is glassy, colourless and hard, graphite is dark grey/black and is soft. This has to do with the arrangement of the carbon atoms in each compound respectively.