Under standard conditions (298 K and 1 atm), which statement is true?

Question

a] diamond converts to graphite spontaneously
b] graphite converts to diamond spontaneously
c] none of the above

How can the spontaneity of the reaction be reversed? a] increase the temperature
b] decrease the temperature
c] none of the above

If i calculated it right i got Delta H to be -1.9 kJ/mol
Delta S to be 3.3 J/mol k
and Delta G to be -2.9 kJ/mol
does this mean that the first part was a] diamond converts to graphite spontaneously since delta G was negative?

Answer 1

Yes, that's exactly what it means. So how do diamonds hold their value? Because
a) most people don't know that.
b) it says nothing about the rate of the reaction. As it happens the activation energy for the reaction C(diamond) ==> C(graphite) is a large bump to get over and it takes a few million years (I didn't calculate late; it's just a number I pulled out of a hat) for diamonds to change back to graphite.

Answer 2

thank you!

Answer 3

What is the answer to the second part of the question?

Answer 4

Part 1 is A
Part 2 is C none of the above