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Why does diamond not conduct electricity?
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crystal
A crystal form of elemental sulfur. Sulfur has an atomic weight of about 32.06 atomic mass units (amu), which means that its molar mass is 32.06 grams.
Diamond does not conduct electricity because of its unique crystal structure. In a diamond, every carbon atom is covalently bonded to four other carbon atoms in a rigid, three-dimensional tetrahedral arrangement.1
Because all four of a carbon atom's valence electrons are localized and tied up in these strong, stable covalent bonds, there are no free electrons available to move through the structure to carry an electrical current. This configuration makes diamond an excellent electrical insulator, which is a direct consequence of its highly compact and rigid network of bonds.12