Brilliance of diamond is due to
By BYJU'S Exam Prep
Updated on: September 25th, 2023
Diamonds are popular for their spectacular brilliance. It is because of the total internal reflection of light inside them. Once light enters a diamond, it is very likely to undergo total internal reflection inside it because the critical angle for the diamond-air interface is very small.
Table of content
Answer: The brilliance of the diamond is due to the total internal reflection of light.
Diamonds sparkle so brilliantly due to their suitable cutting. It is a solid form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a crystal structure. It has the highest thermal conductivity of any natural material and hardness properties that are used in major industrial applications such as polishing tools and cutting. It also has a relatively high optical dispersion and a very high refractive index.
Properties of Diamond
Following are the properties of diamond:
-
It is rigid because of the arrangement of atoms in it.
-
It is the most common allotropes of pure carbon.
-
Because of its exceptional physical characteristics, it has been adopted for many uses.
-
It possesses an extremely low coefficient of thermal expansion.
-
Its adhesion and friction are low.
-
It has excellent biological compatibility.
-
It does not react with most corrosive substances.
-
It has the highest sound velocity.
Summary:
What causes the brilliance of diamonds?
The total internal reflection of light causes the brilliance of the diamond.