Various sorts of materials are available on the market. Some are created naturally, while others are created artificially by humans. In this cosmos, all kinds of materials serve diverse purposes.
Furthermore, entire innovations in various fields (automobiles, science) are only conceivable due to the presence of raw natural minerals on Earth.
Humans use glass and diamonds as various materials or items. Glass objects are widely utilized and available in multiple stores (kitchenware, mirrors, decorations, and furniture) at reasonable costs.
On the other hand, diamond is a costly and valuable metal. Diamonds are primarily available in jewellery stores, but high-profile fashion designers now employ them to design clothing for wealthy customers.
Key Takeaways
- Glass is an amorphous solid, while diamonds are crystalline and composed of carbon atoms.
- Diamonds rank ten on the Mohs hardness scale, whereas glass ranks around 5.5.
- Diamonds have high refractive indices and exceptional dispersion properties, while glass has lower refractive indices and less dispersion.
Glass vs Diamond
Glass is an amorphous, transparent material made by melting silica with other materials, making it brittle and easily breaking upon impact. Diamond is a crystalline, transparent material made of carbon atoms arranged in a specific lattice structure, making it the hardest natural material.
Glass is manufactured in factories by combining a few chemicals with fine sand grains. After that, once the raw form is ready, it’s utilized in multiple sectors to create unique things.
For example, it is crafted into stylish kitchenware and vintage items for gift-giving. People prefer this material for window panes as well.
A diamond is made of carbon and is found naturally in the Earth’s mantle. Diamonds are among the firmest substances in the world. Diamonds form over millions of years at extreme temperatures and pressures.
In chemical labs, similar conditions exist to produce diamonds artificially. Mostly, people are fond of diamonds in the form of jewellery.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | Glass | Diamond |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | It is fragile in strength. | It is hard and does not break easily. |
| Value | It is a very common material. | It is a precious and expensive material. |
| Application | Used for making mirrors, screens, and utensils. | It is for making jewelry and in rare clothes stores. |
| Property | Glass is not lustrous and more transparent. | Diamond is lustrous and is less transparent. |
| Made of | It is made of sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate when mixed in the sand. | It is made up of the element, carbon. |
What is Glass?
According to history, glass was first found in Mesopotamia and Egypt in a vessel shape between 2500 and 3500 BC. Because of the lack of technology in the past, making glass was extremely difficult.
In the first century, this substance gained widespread acceptance.
Glass formation got easier after the invention of the blowpipe, resulting in high availability at low prices. It was first recognized in Europe in the first few centuries for its use in the creation of umpteen arts in prominent and religious buildings.
The first glass factory was established in the United States in the 17th century. At that time, it had become a well-known material for use in window panes, and the glass-making industry had progressed. As a result, this material began to spread to other continents.
The idea that glass consists of liquid sand yet is a solid material is astonishing. The mixture of liquid sand and chemical compounds such as sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate is heated to a very high temperature to form this material.
Despite its weak strength, it can be moulded to make plates, glasses, paintings, windowpanes, furniture, and mirrors when it is made. Transparency (despite being built of opaque sand), non-crystallization, and heat resistance are its physical qualities.
What is a Diamond?
The Earth’s surface contains diamonds in their natural state. It was first popular in Brazil and South America in the 18th century.
Following the French Revolution, attention switched to South Africa, which contained 90% of the world’s diamond mines.
Diamond mines were discovered in later decades in India’s southern states, although not in large quantities. India’s diamond market is not as well-known as that of Arab countries.
Diamonds are mined in multiple ways, including open pit and underground mining by exposers.
These are mostly present in the Earth’s gravel layer alongside other ores in a rough state. Before arriving at a jewellery store, it goes through several processes, including crushing (for breaking the ore into smaller pieces into 150 mm with two machines).
Scrubbing follows, in which tiny ores less than 1.5 mm are eliminated to extract diamonds at a low cost. After that, ores containing diamonds are placed in ferrosilicon and water to separate the diamonds from the ore.
Following that, the diamonds are collected, cleaned, and weighed. It makes its way to the jeweller in the shape of a crystal. It’s used to serve a range of expensive accessories, including neckpieces and rings.
Last but not least, ensure that it is genuine before purchasing diamond jewellery. Due to diamond smuggling, fake diamonds are in the market for fools, unwary people.
Main Differences Between Glass and Diamond
- Glass cannot be found in nature and is manufactured in factories by mixing certain compounds with opaque and liquid sand. However, diamonds can be extracted naturally or formed in labs.
- Mirrors, technology, kitchenware, and furniture are a few of the businesses that use glass. Diamond, on the other hand, is used to create expensive jewellery.
- Glass is a fragile material that is broken easily as compared to diamonds in terms of material strength.
- Glass has a non-lustrous, transparent, and non-crystalline look. On the other hand, diamonds are translucent, lustrous, and crystalline.
- Glass is made from fine-grain sand when mixed with sodium carbonate and calcium carbonate at high temperatures. On the contrary, diamonds are extracted from ores by crushing and scrubbing.
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955221916301376
- https://www.osapublishing.org/abstract.cfm?uri=ao-26-13-2491
Last Updated : 22 June, 2023
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
The historical insights provided about the origin and development of glass and diamonds are fascinating. It’s intriguing to know the journey of these materials through the ages.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the differences between glass and diamond materials. The detailed discussion about the specific properties and uses of both materials is insightful.
While the article delves into the scientific and historical aspects of glass and diamonds, it would be beneficial to include more practical, everyday examples to illustrate the comparative properties of these materials.
An interesting comparison between glass and diamond. However, I believe that a more in-depth analysis of various applications of these materials would have further enhanced the article.
I completely agree with you. The article lacks a detailed application-based comparison between glass and diamond materials.
I think the article adequately covers the basic comparison between glass and diamond. A more detailed analysis would make the article exceedingly lengthy and might lose the reader’s interest.
The detailed comparison of the physical, chemical, and structural properties of glass and diamond offers valuable information. It’s interesting to learn about the contrasting characteristics of these materials.
I found the comparison table particularly useful in summarizing key differences between glass and diamond materials. It provides a clear and concise overview of their comparative properties.
The article effectively presents the disparities between glass and diamond materials by examining their respective compositions, origins, and applications. A well-structured and informative read.