What is the coordination number of carbon in diamond?

💡 Solution & Explanation

In the crystal structure of diamond, each carbon atom undergoes sp3 hybridization and forms strong covalent bonds with four neighboring carbon atoms arranged in a rigid tetrahedral geometry, yielding a coordination number of 4. Other allotropes of carbon, such as graphite, feature a planar trigonal structure with a coordination number of 3. This three-dimensional network accounts for the exceptional hardness and high melting point of diamond.