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K value

Started by RickP
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RickP

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Which of the following best describes how graphite and diamond may be found to occur naturally.

A: for the reaction Cdiamond---> Cgraphite the change in gibbs free energy is -2.90 kj/mol\

B: The value of K for the interconversion btwn diamond and graphite is extremly small

D: Graphite and diamond are in dynamic equilibrium

The answer was B when I thought D

Could someone explain this please? I thought a small value of K meant a reaction favouring the reactants leaving only 1 prominent species instead of both "occurring naturally".

Thanks in advance
 
The K value for the inter-conversion is extremely small. If a K value approaches 0, a reaction does not occur. Both diamond and graphite can form just from being in different environments, and since the K is very small, no real inter-conversion happens and hence both exist.