Mon Prof Augmenté
Carbon Under Pressure
Age 13 · Chemistry
Deep in Earth’s mantle, carbon atoms are squeezed by enormous heat and pressure. They pack together into a rigid, repeating lattice, and that lattice is a diamond.
This picture is part of the full library
Every lesson is open to everyone for 7 days after it is published. This one came out on September 23, 2026: its text stays readable here, and its picture opens with a subscription.
The app is free. A subscription opens every lesson, in every school year.
Age 13: open this week
Browse Age 13
In the picture
- One carbon atom: a single grey sphere in the group
- Pressure: arrows pushing inward on the group from every side
- The mantle: the glowing hot layer deep below the surface
- The lattice: spheres locked in a fixed repeating pattern, each touching its neighbours
Examples
- Graphite in a pencil lead, also pure carbon but in flat sheets
- The clear faceted stone in a diamond ring
Key takeaways
- Diamond and graphite are both pure carbon; only the way the atoms are arranged differs.
- Extreme heat and pressure deep underground lock carbon atoms into the diamond lattice.
Quiz: Carbon Under Pressure (Age 13)
-
What is the main difference between diamond and graphite according to the card?
-
What conditions deep in Earth’s mantle lock carbon atoms into a diamond lattice?
-
In the diamond lattice, how are the carbon atoms arranged?
The answers, each with its explanation, are in the app. This lesson has left the free week, so its quiz is part of the subscription.
Free app, optional subscription
App Store Google Play
Carry on in the app
At least one new illustrated lesson every weekday for your child’s year, with its quiz and a reminder at 6:15 pm.
Your child’s teacher does not use My Enhanced Teacher yet?
Tell them about it
