Consider two statements about diamond: (I) diamond is famously bright and brilliant, and (II) diamond has a very low refractive index. Which is correct?

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1. Consider two statements about diamond: (I) diamond is famously bright and brilliant, and (II) diamond has a very low refractive index. Which is correct?

Both statements are true, and II correctly explains I

Both statements are true, but II does not explain I

Statement I is true, but statement II is false

Statement I is false, but statement II is true

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Diamond is indeed brilliant, but not because of a low refractive index — quite the opposite. Diamond has an unusually HIGH refractive index, around 2.42, which gives it a very small critical angle and extensive internal light-trapping.