Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => Physical Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: kalyanvadagam on July 14, 2020, 02:45:11 AM
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why is graphite the standard state of carbon why not diamond
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What is the standard state? How are they chosen in general?
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The question in the context of calculating enthalpy of formation.
For C(GRAPHITE) Enthalpy of formation is zero. But C(diamond) enthalpy of formation is nonzero.
Why??????
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These are two different forms, something must happen for the conversion to happen, it can't be thermodynamically neutral.
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Graphite is taken as the standard because it's more common. Diamond would be better reproducible, sure.
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Graphite is taken as the standard because it's more common.
I believe the more important point is that it is thermodynamically stable. Diamond is not (even if it is stable for kinetic reasons).