Diamond

[Andres Merlos 2L]

Why is it that diamond is kinetically stable and controlled with respect to graphite if the reaction for this to happens takes so long under STP? Is it because it is quicker, relative to graphite?

[Kimberly Koo 2I]

Diamond is kinetically stable with respect to graphite because the path for diamond becoming graphite has a larger activation energy barrier that makes the diamond less ready to transition to graphite, so diamond is kinetically stable.

[005162520]

What do you mean by large activation energy barrier ? If it has a large activation energy barrier does that mean the reaction takes longer ?

[DanielTalebzadehShoushtari2A]

Graphite is thermodynamically more stable than diamond, because it has less total energy. However, the process needed to get from diamond to graphite has a large activation energy (where the "energy barrier" comes from). So, the reaction proceeds so slowly that diamond is said to be stable (kinetically).

[Nare Nazaryan 1F]

What do you mean by large activation energy barrier ? If it has a large activation energy barrier does that mean the reaction takes longer ?

Yes, it takes much longer since it is a lot slower (and usually we don't see diamond rings for example turning to graphite)

[Caroline Zepecki]

Over a very very long period of time graphite will turn to diamond, but graphite is in its more stable energy form. It has a super high activation energy/energy barrier though

[Jasmine Vallarta 2L]

diamond --> graphite has a very very large activation energy