Carbon. The same element in diamonds, wood and in the infamous carbon dioxide.

Carbon is the sixth element on the periodic table. There are more chemical compounds that contain carbon than compounds that don’t. This element is the center of all life on earth.

The properties of the carbon element:

What does carbon look like?

Carbon occurs in various forms naturally namely, diamonds, graphite, fullerene and graphene. Diamonds are colorless, transparent, and crystalline solids. It is the hardest known material. Graphite is dark to black and is very soft.

What is carbon used for?

If you factor in all the different compounds and material of which carbon is a constituent, the number of uses for this element will be near countless. For starters about 18 percent of the human body consists of carbon. The following are the most common uses for carbon and carbon allotropes. Graphite - Used in pencils Carbon fibre - Used as a light weight strengthening mechanism in industries ranging from the automotive, to sporting industry. Industial diamonds - Used in cutting rocks and drilling. Diamond films are also used to protect surfaces such as razor blades. Charcoal and Wood - Forms of impure carbon. Very important to the iron and steel industries. Carbon dating is used to determine the are of organic matter.

Uses for carbon compounds:

Amazing fact: There are more compounds know that contain carbon than compounds that don’t.

• Fossil Fuels - The hydrocarbon bonds extracted naturally as fossil fuels are used as fuels.
• Carbon dioxide - One of the three essential components of photo synthesis. It is also the gas that gives the fizzynes to carbonated drinks. Carbon dioxide is also used in fire extinguishers. Carbon dioxide also sublimates, meaning that it transitions from a gas to a solid state without becoming a liquid. Solid or frozen carbon dioxide is also known as dry ice, which is used as a cooling agent.
• Methane (CH4) - Is a gas that is emitted due to a number of anthropogenic sources and consists of one carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms. Methane can be used as a source of energy.

Where can carbon be found?

Carbon can be found in stars snd in all living things and also in the fosilised remains of living things. The carbon in fosilised remains exists as hydro carbons and carbonates. Carbon is all around us and can be found in some form or as a constituent in some compound in an uncountable amount of materials around us.

Can carbon dioxide be recycled?

Ways to recycle carbon dioxide back into it’s hydro carbon state has been identified, but it is currently not economically feasible to recycle carbon dioxide.

Is carbon dangerous?

Pure carbon has very low toxicity. Inhalation of large quantities of carbon black dust (soot/coal dust) can cause irritation and damage to the lungs. Many carbon compounds are toxic to humans.

Who discovered the carbon element?

French chemist Antoine Lavoisier named carbon and he carried out a variety of experiments to reveal its nature. In 1772 Lavoisier and a bunch of other chemists pooled together to buy a diamond. They then succeeded to burn the diamond by focussing the sun’s rays with a magnifying glas on the diamond and observed the diamond as it turned into carbon dioxide. They the established that diamond was made from carbon.

Interesting facts about carbon

• Carbon can only be a liquid when the temperature is raised while put under extreme pressure.
• Diamonds, can be burnt into carbon dioxide when heated to a high enough temperature.
• There are more compounds know that contain carbon than that don’t

Funny carbon Jokes, Puns and One-Liners

Charcoal and diamond ontheir first date:
Charcoal: “You look a lot older than you profile picture”
Diamond: “I’ve been under a lot of pressure in lately"

What animal lives underground and consists of exactly 12 grams of carbon? A mole.

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