💎 Diamond Optics Lab: Refractive Index 2.417, Dispersion and Brilliance of a Cut Diamond

Diamond (C): refractive index 2.417, Mohs hardness 10, dispersion 0.044. Diamond is a form of pure carbon in which every atom is bonded to four neighbours in a rigid cubic lattice, which makes it the hardest natural material and gives it the highest refractive index of the common gemstones. Its very small critical angle of about 24.4 degrees traps light inside a well-cut stone, and its strong dispersion splits the escaping light into spectral colours.