Can You Burn a Diamond?

Yes, diamonds can indeed burn! Even though diamonds are known as the hardest natural substance on Earth, they are, essentially, just carbon – the same stuff in your pencil or the charcoal in your BBQ. The carbon atoms in a diamond are arranged in a special pattern that makes them strong, shiny, and clear.

However, under high heat and given enough oxygen, a diamond can catch fire and burn away. This burning happens at about 850 degrees Celsius (1,562 degrees Fahrenheit), which is really, really hot! To give you some perspective, paper burns at around 230 degrees Celsius (446 degrees Fahrenheit). So, the heat needed to burn a diamond is almost four times hotter than that needed to burn paper!

When a diamond burns, it reacts with oxygen and turns into carbon dioxide gas. So, your diamond could completely disappear, leaving nothing but gas!