DIAMONDS and charcoal are made from the same substance, yet diamonds are one of the hardest materials on Earth.
They are commonly used to cut, drill, and polish other hard materials, such as glass, steel, and various gemstones.
Immortalised in song as a “girl's best friend”, in film as “lasting forever” and in marketing as “the ultimate symbol of lasting love”, diamonds hold a significant place in culture.
But, is it true that diamonds can be used to create a common drink?
Verdict:
TRUE
Carbon, the same element that makes up graphite, transforms into diamonds when subjected to pressures 50,000 times greater than the surface of the Earth and temperatures around 1,600°C.
However, if diamonds are placed in an oxygen-rich environment and heated to temperatures between 700°C and 900°C, they will oxidise and turn into carbon dioxide gas, leaving no trace behind.
This gas can then be dissolved in water to create carbonated water, the same carbonated water used in carbonated drinks, albeit far more expensive.
References:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0wvDwSnzcw&vl=en
www.gemsociety.org/article/can-diamonds-burn/
www.wtamu.edu/~cbaird/sq/2014/03/27/can-you-light-diamond-on-fire/
