Asked by: Lucie Smatova, Loughborough

Yes. Diamonds are made from pure carbon, and carbon will burn in an oxygen atmosphere to produce carbon dioxide. However, you needn’t worry about leaving a diamond in the sun. It would take a temperature of 700-900°C before it started to burn, since the carbon atoms in a diamond are in a tight three-dimensional array that’s very hard to disrupt.

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.

Authors

Len Fisher

Sponsored Deals

BBC Science Focus Magazine Subscription Offer

May Half Price Sale

  • Save up to 52% when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine.
  • Risk - free offer! Cancel at any time when you subscribe via Direct Debit.
  • FREE UK delivery.
  • Stay up to date with the latest developments in the worlds of science and technology.
SUBSCRIBE NOW